Internet Tools

Dan Young, MTRich Wagner, KY

Company Sites Jurisdictional Sites Federal Government Sites Other Web Sites

Finding the company web site can assist an auditor in learning many pieces of information on that company. Some of the items one can learn for the company web site include:

Company locations and terminals Make up of units if company owned or

if there is use of owner operators Primary operation coverage Corporate officers Products hauled

Most jurisdictions operate a Secretary of State web site. Searching these databases you can find company locations as well as corporate officers.

www.sos.ky.gov/online.htm http://app.mt.gov/bes/

Some jurisdictions will also have clearinghouse sites where from one location you can learn many bits of information on one carrier.

Demo of KY CVIEW will follow.

One site all auditors should use is: www.safersys.org

This site will give you information on Motor Carriers in multiple ways. Some of the useful items on these pages include:

Company snapshot information including address, phone number, number of units and products hauled.

Insurance information UCR information Safety related information including

vehicle and driver inspections by jurisdictions are found in safestat results.

Most Motor Carrier staffs will have someone with access to this Federal DOT web site.

This site will allow the user to see DOT correspondence, identify date and location of issuance of DOT number, and view details of all DOT safety inspections which will include names of company officials, documents viewed, and citations.

MCMIS is password protected, please check with your credentials issuing area for a demonstration of this site in your jurisdiction.

There are sites that can assist an auditor in finding average retail fuel prices by regions as well as finding out average MPG’s by truck class.

Using these sites can make your audit easier when your only re-course is using Best Information Available audits.

The following link is a Federal Web Site that will show you fuel average prices.

http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pri_gnd_dcus_nus_w.htm

You will be able to find weekly averages for all different regions as well as historical data for the past four years that will be covered by audit periods.

The following link is a Federal Web Site that will show you MPG averages.

http://cta.ornl.gov/data/index.shtml From the link go to Chapter 5 to find

information on Heavy Vehicles and Characteristics.

Information can be found on average mpg by weights and years of trucks.

There also is information in this site as to average miles per truck.

www.whitepages.com and www.yellowpages.com

These two sites can be used to find phone numbers and addresses of companies. They also can be used for reverse look-ups to determine to whom a phone number is registered to as well as the location the phone number came from.

Audit staffs should have access to both of these sites. There is valuable information available to the audit staffs for each of these.

Both of these sites are password protected and see your administrator for access.

IRP auditors can use this clearinghouse to find IFTA returns filed by the registrant under audit.

All auditors can search records for authorities in multiple jurisdictions and can also find information on decals issued to the licensee as well as the DOT number.

IFTA auditors will have a great starting point to find out what equipment is registered to the licensee as well as finding the owner of leased equipment. Searches in the IRP clearinghouse can be done by name or VIN.

Auditors will also be able to view the IRP returns and determine what jurisdictions are shown to have actual or estimated operations.

Facebook, Myspace, and other social networking web sites can be used by auditors to find out additional information on the licensee under audit.

Most all of us are aware of the different search engines available on the internet.

Several jurisdictions may have these sites blocked by their Technology department. If possible request for permission to use the sites.

Several of the sites have password protection and user id and passwords will have to be created after approval is given for access.

The web is a wonderful place for knowledge and information.

As auditors we should use as many tools available to us as possible to complete better audits with more factual information.

By using government compiled data, audits will stand a better chance of holding up during protests or court appeals.