Samuel C Mayfield is a DOT compliance consultant & educator, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations expert, and owner of Academic Carrier Education Services, LLC. 

Sam retired from law enforcement after serving twenty years as a State Trooper with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (Highway Patrol).  During his time as a Trooper, he obtained numerous Federal and State certifications related to DOT enforcement, including certified FMCSA instructor, certified Federal and Arizona State DOT auditor (Compliance Review and New Entrant), certified commercial vehicle inspector, certified HAZMAT inspector, and certified Cargo Tank inspector. 

Sam was the Arizona Department of Public Safety’s Commercial Vehicle Training Coordinator for 1½ years and an expert on DOT regulations and safety compliance.  While serving as the Training Coordinator, Sam aided in the creation of the Department’s DataQ Challenge Board (the first ever in the USA) and sat on the Board as a voting member and Resource Officer for just over a year. 

As a consultant, Sam has helped transportation companies improve their safety scores, averted thousands of dollars in Federal fines, and saved companies hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums.  As an educator, Sam has taught owners, managers, drivers, and staff how to understand and apply the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, as well as management and safety principles, to improve roadway safety, streamline operations, and avoid audits. As an expert witness, Sam has assisted attorneys with investigative insight and expert opinion on regulatory application.

“Knowledge IS Power”, Sam would say; improve roadway safety, CSA scores, and gain knowledge and understanding by contacting Academic Carrier Educations Services, LLC at (602) 730-2237 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

EDUCATION IS THE SOLUTION!

Commercial motor vehicles transported nearly 64% of all business products (roughly 11.513 million tons of freight) throughout the United States, and more than 750 million people rely on commercial passenger transportation companies to travel to their destinations.  By year 2045, total freight on all modes – air, vessel, pipeline, rail, and trucks – is projected by the Federal Government to reach 25 billion tons while the value is expected to grow to $37 trillion.  Trucks are by far the single most-used mode to move freight, moving 64 percent of tonnage in 2015 and 69 percent of the value. Tonnage for trucking is forecast to grow 44 percent by 2045, and value is forecast to grow 84 percent.

The Federal government regulates this industry and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, along with State and local law enforcement agencies, enforce these regulations upon motor carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers.  The commercial motor vehicle inspectors and motor carrier auditors will fine companies, starting at $2,000 per violation, and cite drivers for being in violation of these regulations.  CSA 2010 has changed the motor carrier safety rating system to where ALL violations on a roadside inspection count against the carrier.

During 2024 Fiscal Year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and State Agencies completed 8,968 Audit Investigations (On-Site Comprehensive, On-Site Focused, and Off-Site Focused Investigations) resulting in theissuance of 2,798 Notices of Claim (fines to companies) for a total of more than $27.05 million in fines, 415 Unsat/Unfit Orders (company shut-downs for unsafe operations), 1,000 Out-Of-Service Orders (company shut-downs for not paying fines), and 1 Imminent Hazard Out-Of-Service Order (company shut-down for being a hazard to the public).  Additionally, 27,245 new motor carriers received Out-Of-Service Orders for failing or not completing the New Entrant Safety Assessment audits. For Roadside Inspections, they completed over 1.4 million  tractor/trailer, truck, and bus inspections, placing 333,514 vehicles and 130,355 drivers Out-Of-Service.

The Federal, State and local roadside inspectors and auditors are educated in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) by the Federal government.  They spend a minimum of 80 hours, and up to 256 hours, in a classroom environment and are taught by 2-3 instructors per class.  They must pass a knowledge test at 80% or better to become certified to complete the inspections.  Auditors will spend approximately 320 hours in 7 different courses to obtain the certifications necessary for their assignments.

The Federal government requires motor carriers and their employees to be knowledgeable about the FMCSRs, BUT OFFERS NO EDUCATIONAL COURSES TO THEM OR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.  The FMCSA and State auditors will, however, gladly add the violation of Failing to be Knowledgeable of the FMCSRs to any audit they conduct.

This is where Academic Carrier Education Services, LLC can help.  Education, Training, and Sound Guidance is at your finger tips!

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!

Avoid receiving a poor safety rating and/or fines from the government.  Improve your current safety rating and decrease roadside violations.  Contact us today for educational Courses and consulting services.

(623) 297-4682

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

(623) 297-4682

5332 E Sierra Sunset Trail
Cave Creek, AZ  85331

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.