Claude Skills by x3allamerican

Use this skill when the user asks about CMV oilfield operations — the 24-hour restart exemption (49 CFR 395.1(d)), oilfield-specific HOS rules, hot oil hauling, specialty equipment (winch trucks, kill trucks, frac sand haulers, water haulers), Texas Railroad Commission permitting, oilfield insurance specifics, and how oilfield operations differ from standard OTR trucking. Cite 49 CFR 395.1(d).

Use this skill when the user asks about getting/maintaining motor carrier operating authority — USDOT number, MC number, BOC-3 process agent, insurance filing (MCS-90, BMC-91/91X), Unified Carrier Registration (UCR), International Registration Plan (IRP), International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), state-level permits (NY HUT, KY weight distance, OR weight-mile, NM weight distance), new entrant safety audit, intra vs interstate, for-hire vs private. Cite 49 CFR 365, 387, 390.

Use when a carrier asks which KPIs to track, how to build a fleet dashboard, what targets to set, cadence for reviewing metrics (daily / weekly / monthly / quarterly), and how to operationalize data into actions. Covers safety, operations, financial, driver, and customer KPIs.

Use this skill when the user asks about oversize / overweight load permits — state-by-state permitting process, escort vehicle (pilot car) requirements, route surveys, federal axle weight limits (Federal Bridge Formula), holiday restrictions, multi-state permits, and how to determine if a load needs a permit. Reference state DOT permitting offices.

Use when an owner-operator (1099 or LLC/S-corp) asks how to lower their tax bill, what they can deduct, per diem treatment, depreciation choices (Section 179, bonus, MACRS), quarterly estimated payments, S-corp salary vs distributions, retirement plan options (SEP-IRA, Solo 401(k)), or recordkeeping requirements. Covers federal income tax + self-employment tax basics; not state-specific.

Use this skill when the user asks about the financial differences between being an owner-operator vs company driver — gross pay, expenses, net pay, capital requirements, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and how to evaluate the path. Reference industry pay surveys.

Use this skill when the user asks about passenger-carrying CMVs — buses, motorcoaches, charter operations, school buses, limousines, shuttle services. Covers different HOS rules (10-hour driving / 15-hour on-duty / no 34-restart), Class C CDL with P endorsement, S endorsement for school bus, FMCSA Hours-of-Service for passenger vehicles, $5M insurance minimum, BMC-32 filing, accessibility requirements, and how passenger ops differ from property. Cite 49 CFR 395.5 + 387.33.

Use when a driver has been involved in a crash — regardless of preventability or injury — and the carrier needs to handle the immediate, post-investigation, and return-to-work phases. Covers trauma response, post-accident testing under 49 CFR 382.303, paid time off, retraining, light duty, and re-entry planning.

Use this skill when the user asks how to design or improve a Preventive Maintenance (PM) program for a fleet — mileage vs time intervals, A/B/C/D inspection levels, ATA standards, common PM tasks, scheduling software, cost tracking, and how PM affects roadside inspections + CSA scores. Reference ATA Equipment Maintenance Council standards.

Use this skill when the user asks about trucking rate negotiation — cost-plus pricing, market rate benchmarking via DAT/Truckstop, fuel surcharge math, how to negotiate with brokers/shippers, when to walk away, contract pricing vs spot rates. Reference DAT Rate Analytics + freight market reports.

Use this skill to understand record retention requirements for currently-employed drivers. Covers DQF, HOS, vehicle records, and D&A specific periods.

Use this skill to evaluate document retention software options. Covers compliance features, ease of use, integration, and cost.

Use this skill to understand when electronic records are acceptable to FMCSA inspectors. Covers PDF, original-format, and search-ability requirements.

Use this skill for record retention after a driver leaves your employment. Covers when records can be destroyed vs retained for cause.

Use this skill when the user asks how to recruit CDL drivers — sourcing channels (CDL schools, job boards, military, returning citizens, owner-operator pools), application + screening process, signing bonus structures, recruitment marketing, fleet ambassador programs, and what's working in the current driver market. Reference ATA Workforce Development.

Use this skill when the user asks about refrigerated (reefer) trucking — cold chain compliance, FDA temperature recording requirements, Sanitary Transportation Rule (STR / 21 CFR 1.900-1.934), commodity-specific temperature ranges, refrigeration unit operation, temperature recorder calibration, and how a load is challenged if temperature deviates. Cite 21 CFR Part 1 Subpart Q.

Use this skill when the user asks about CMV roadside inspection levels (Level I through Level VIII), what each level inspects, average inspection times, CVSA decal eligibility, what triggers a level upgrade, and how to coach drivers through a roadside inspection. Reference CVSA North American Standard Inspection Program.

Use this skill when the user asks how to build, measure, or improve safety culture in a motor carrier — leading vs lagging safety indicators, blame-free reporting, near-miss programs, safety committee structure, monthly safety meetings, ATA Safety Management Program guidance, and how to evaluate cultural maturity. Reference ATA SMP + DOT safety culture research.

Use when a safety director, operations manager, or fleet owner asks for templates, topics, or structure for recurring safety meetings — weekly driver meetings, monthly safety committee meetings, quarterly all-hands safety reviews, or post-incident safety stand-downs.

Use when a carrier is evaluating ELD / telematics / dashcam platforms and needs an objective comparison of Samsara, Motive (formerly KeepTruckin), and Geotab. Covers ELD compliance, AI dashcams, driver scoring, integrations, pricing structure, and which fleet profile suits which platform.

Use when a carrier or driver asks about winter trucking, snow chain requirements, hot-weather precautions, summer tire failures, fuel additive use (anti-gel), idle management in extreme temperatures, weight restrictions in spring thaw, or how seasonal demand patterns affect freight rates and capacity.

Use this skill when the user asks how to build + manage direct shipper relationships — moving from spot market to dedicated lanes, customer scoring + credit assessment, contract terms, dedicated capacity agreements, KPI reporting, and how to handle customer disputes. Reference standard customer-carrier contract terms.

Use this skill when the user asks the cost of pulling a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) in a specific state, or wants to compare MVR fees across multiple states, or is budgeting annual compliance costs for a multi-state fleet. Reference the canonical fee table below; flag that fees change (re-verify with state DMV before annual budget planning).

Use this skill when the user asks about state-specific trucking taxes BEYOND IFTA — NY Highway Use Tax (HUT), KY Kentucky Intrastate Tax (KIT), Oregon Weight-Mile Tax, New Mexico Weight-Distance Tax, Connecticut Highway Use Fee, or other state-level road-use taxes for commercial vehicles. Covers thresholds, rates, registration, filing cadence, and how these differ from IFTA. Reference state DOT/DOR resources.

Use this skill when the user asks about team driving — two-driver OTR operations, how teams maximize miles, HOS rules with sleeper berth swap, pay structures, equipment requirements (sleeper berth specs), team retention, and common challenges. Reference 49 CFR 395.1(g).

Use when a carrier asks about tire program design, when to retread vs replace, position management (steer vs drive vs trailer), inflation pressure standards, casing management, scrub rates, road-call prevention, or vendor program selection (Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, Goodyear). Covers 49 CFR 393.75 and DOT roadside out-of-service criteria.

Use this skill when the user asks about towing + recovery operations — separate FMCSA authority class, light-duty vs medium-duty vs heavy-duty wrecker rules, AAA + AAA-Plus contracts, Roadside-Assistance (RA) operations, "non-consensual tow" rules + state-by-state, and how towing operations differ from general freight. Reference state Public Utility Commission + 49 CFR 395 application.

Use when a carrier asks how to spec a new tractor — engine choice (X15 vs DD16 vs PACCAR MX), transmission (manual vs automated manual vs automatic), axle ratio, sleeper size, fuel tanks, aerodynamic options, electronic features, warranty, fleet-spec vs premium-spec tradeoffs, and how spec choices affect resale value.

Use when a carrier asks about trailer types — dry van, reefer, flatbed, step-deck, conestoga, tanker, dump, lowboy, intermodal chassis, auto-hauler. Covers length / weight rules, common specs, reefer unit options (Carrier vs Thermo King), liftgate options, kingpin setting, and trailer-to-tractor matching.

Use this skill to design an annual driver refresher training program. Covers what to cover, frequency, documentation, and ROI.

Use this skill to understand defensive driving course expectations for CMV drivers. Covers federal vs state vs carrier-specific requirements.

Use this skill when selecting a TPR-registered Training Provider for behind-the-wheel ELDT training. Covers the registry, evaluation criteria, and common pitfalls.

Use this skill when documenting supervisor reasonable-suspicion training for Part 382 compliance. Covers what to log, what to retain, and what training providers to use.

Use this skill to evaluate which defensive driving program is best for your fleet. Compares Smith System, CarriersEdge, Compass-native training, and other options.

Use this skill to develop the capability to investigate crashes internally. Covers what to look for, when to escalate to outside experts, and documentation standards.

Use this skill when the user asks about truck purchase financing, leasing options, factoring, fuel surcharge math, lease-purchase agreements, the total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) comparison between buying + leasing, and how owner-operators finance their first truck. Cover Section 179 + Bonus Depreciation tax treatment.

Use when a driver or carrier asks about trucker mental health — depression, isolation, stress, fatigue, suicide risk, addiction, EAP programs, or wellness benefits. Covers evidence-based programs, hotlines, carrier-side EAP design, and how mental health affects safety and retention.

Use this skill when the user asks about trucking insurance — types of coverage (commercial auto, cargo, occupational accident, workers comp, bobtail/non-trucking, MCS-90 endorsement), federal minimums (49 CFR 387), what each covers, owner-operator vs company-driver implications, and how to read a Certificate of Insurance (COI). Cite 49 CFR 387.

Use this skill for vehicle brake system inspection requirements. Covers daily DVIR, weekly maintenance, brake adjustment check, and the 'percent of out-of-adjustment' rule.

Use this skill to design a vehicle preventive maintenance schedule. Covers manufacturer recommendations, industry-standard intervals, and how to set carrier-specific triggers.

Use this skill for training drivers on effective pre-trip inspection technique. Covers the comprehensive walk-around, time investment, and common areas drivers miss.

Use this skill to understand FMCSA tire tread depth requirements. Covers steer tires (4/32 minimum) and other axles (2/32 minimum), and how to measure correctly.

Use this skill to understand trailer-specific inspection requirements when a trailer is not coupled to a tractor. Covers annual inspection, DVIR rules, and parking inspections.

Use this skill when buying a used tractor or trailer. Covers verifying compliance status, hidden issues, and what to inspect before signing.

Use this skill for wheel-end maintenance and lubrication. Covers oil-bath vs grease packs, wheel-end loss issues, and inspection intervals.

Use this skill when the user asks about CMV vehicle inspections under 49 CFR 396 — DVIRs (Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports), pre-trip inspections, post-trip inspections, periodic inspections, annual inspections, who can perform inspections, OOS criteria, and what makes a "no defect" DVIR valid. Cite 49 CFR 396.

Use this skill when the user asks about CMV maintenance program requirements under 49 CFR 396.3 — what records must be kept, retention periods (12-18 months on vehicle file + 1 year after disposal), what counts as systematic inspection/repair/maintenance, preventive maintenance scheduling, brake adjustment records, and what auditors look for in vehicle files. Cite 49 CFR 396.3 + 396.21.

Use this skill when the user asks about weigh-station bypass services — Drivewyze, PrePass, BestPass, NORPASS, OOIDA toll savings — how they work, eligibility criteria, costs, and how they tie into CSA scores. Reference each provider's coverage area + pricing.

Use this skill when the user asks about workers compensation for trucking — required by state law, classification of drivers, premium calculation (rate × experience modifier × payroll), Common Claim types in trucking, returning injured drivers to work, claims management, premium reduction strategies, and the difference between WC and Occupational Accident insurance for owner-operators. Reference state WC laws + IFTA / fleet insurance.