If you’re still using paper pre-trip inspections, your life is about to get a little bit easier. The final ruling has been passed on the decision to give the industry a break on filing those pre- and post-trip inspections that come back clean.
Of all the inspection reports that are filed, 95% of them indicate no issues at all. While filing may not seem like a big deal to some (especially if you’ve gone digital), so many drivers and carriers are wasting time and money filing those clean reports that it really adds up. In fact, it is estimated that this one new rule will save the industry $1.7 BILLION dollars per year.
In an interview with Fleetowner, David Heller, director of safety and policy at the Truckload Carriers Association said that right now “truck driver vehicle inspection reports were the 19th highest paperwork burden across all federal agencies.” So not only will it save the industry money, but it does a bit to save some money for the government as well.
There is some concern however that not requiring an inspection report to be filed 100% of the time will mean that some drivers won’t bother doing the inspection at all, leading to a increase in safety and maintenance issues.
Next Story: Carrier Goes Completely Employee Owned
Source: fleetowner, kansascity
Image: checkit
sam says
The last 2 years I’ve been driving I’ve never filled one out and the dot never asked about it during inspections.
Matt says
Been driving 20 years and have NEVER been asked to see one. I still do it daily because my company requires it though.
David Norton says
Drivers aren’t stupid they want things fixed on their trucks it always been the company that try’s to cheese there way out of it .
sudon't says
I’ve been told a number of companies that if I do have something wrong, not to put it on that sheet anyway. I put down a problem one time, then I forgot to get the mechanic to sign it before I took off. Not that anyone seemed to care. It’s a royal waste of time.
But my question is: When does this go into effect?
Madcracka says
I do a quick inspection in the morning. Since I’m home everyday and work on my rig on the weekends. It’s inspected enough.
As far as the paperwork, I fill it out just in case.
Mike says
4 comments shows you how interesting trucking is anymore …flat out not never the less its the companies stuff I was a driver they called me up and wanted to know if i would like to drive… I said no..;-) felt good we just wanted to know whats going on… your dream not mine we were going to try and help out with it but ITs not regulated like it used to be and any truck or cargo can be stolen not worth dying for
Mike says
electronic or paper if i can’t check it i really don’t want to drive it..
Brad Petermeyer says
In my opinion, the drivers that won’t even do the pre-trip probably weren’t doing one before, or just a shoddy one at the least. For me a pre trip if like wearing my seatbelt, if I don’t do one, I feel naked and uncomfortable lol
Tim says
Requiring drivers to submit written or electronic confirmation of something, somehow makes it more likely to happen? Since when?
GroceryGetter says
I don’t care if the paperwork is required or not… I inspect because it is my life that is on the line every time I put my butt in the seat behind the wheel. Here in Canada it is still the law that paperwork must be filled out and signed… but that doesn’t mean that the drivers actually inspect. Takes seconds to fill out a pretrip form… takes valuable coffee drinking and chatting with buddies time to actually inspect and make sure the vehicle is safe.
Not sure about any of those that feel the inspection is not necessary… but I have had equipment fail between the time I parked it for the night and the 10 hours later when I started my pretrip. Luckily only minor things… but who knows when something major will unexpectedly fail? I don’t want to die simply because a pretrip was considered too costly for a company or the government… or worse, I accidentally kill someone else.
Well that’s my 2 cents worth… drive safe everyone.
Kajidono says
“except drivers of passenger-carrying CMVs”
Yeah, thanks for nothing.
Matt says
Sooooo….. When???
Kelly says
I’m an O/O contracted to a carrier Questliner in Iowa. Im glad to say we converted to doing electronic DVIRs that then go directly to our maintenance dept, when we flag an issue. They not correct the problem, I get an response back to my truck stating what was done and the mechanic that did it.
There are great carriers out here to partner with, and my terminal is small enough to be on a first name basis with all support people. We have 150 truck on Hazmat side and over 700 foodgrade. Im happy to have ended up here and going on six years.
KellyKelly says
Meant not only correct problem.