Stopped for a Level 1 inspection, printed a Level 2 report

MNdriver · Jul 21, 2012

KANSAS TRANSIT said: ↑

According to my driver, and BTW this guy has been with the company for OVER 12 years, he simply would not make this up.

Did visual walkaround, checked load straps, checked all driver,load and equipment P/W, checked all lights. Got UNDER truck and checked sup. steering, brake chambers for leaks and adj.

Then got under the side of my trailer at each tandem, checked susp, air chambers and adj. (you literally CAN'T get UNDER my trailers as they sit VERY low. Unless you are built like Gumby.

This driver DOES know the difference between the insp. levels, I did ask why he didn't question the officer, but as you know, drivers feel intimidated at that time.
Click to expand...

Not trying to ding you. Just was a curiosity question more than anything for me.

Roadmedic · Jul 21, 2012

MNdriver said: ↑

Not trying to ding you. Just was a curiosity question more than anything for me.
Click to expand...

I got a level one at the scale on I-94 around Porter IN.

It was raining. I had received one on Tuesday in Missouri. This was Friday.

The inspector took my paper and did a level one and never left the car.

MNdriver · Jul 21, 2012

Roadmedic said: ↑

I got a level one at the scale on I-94 around Porter IN.

It was raining. I had received one on Tuesday in Missouri. This was Friday.

The inspector took my paper and did a level one and never left the car.
Click to expand...

That's just wrong....

KANSAS TRANSIT · Jul 21, 2012

Rat said: ↑

In my circles, the stickers seem to mean nothing. I have had stickers installed for level 1s and still got stopped the next day. So I don't fret about the sticker deal. I have been level 1ed many times and not gotten a sticker. The main thing is that I passed a level 1 inspection and this looks good for the company and the companies CSA scores. That and I love making the DOT man do some work for a chance. LOL

My favorite thing about getting stopped for an inspection is the comments. They open the side box to see the fire extinguisher and they say WOW, everything is so organized, they look in the cab and see nothing but organized and clean, they start walking around the truck and notice that everything is dam near perfect. "looks like you take alot of pride in the equipment" is another favorite. The boss jokes about how he wishes I would not get DOTed because he is sick of having to pay me a bonus for it everytime.

I love it when I am stopped and told that they are going to do a level 1 and half way through the inspection they come up to me and say that all looks good and they give me a level 1 printout to sign.

There was only 1 time I did not pass an inspection and it was because I did not feel the need to double check our shops work. I had just gotten the trailer out of the shop for a 6 wheel brake job. I did not feel the need to crawl under the trailer to check the slack adjusters since they were supposedly just set up do to the new brakes. I was wrong I guess, I got a warning for two wheels being out of adjustment. The officer commented on the new brake shoes and hardware. I was fuming about it because it just got out of the shop. He only gave me a warning. I grabbed my wrench and crawled under the trailer and set them up right infront of him.

The boss was not happy either, he gave the shop foreman a good chewing out about it and I still got the bonus.

Some might call me annul but I use the yearly inspection sheet as my guideline when going over the truck daily. I do this because I am not perfect and might miss something. When the truck goes into the shop I, I make them go over the lugs with a torque wrench each and everytime since I don't carry one myself.

It really pisses me off when drivers comment that they won't do this type of check overs on the equipment because they don't get paid for the extra time. We have many drivers in our fleet that won't check over their trucks like this because Marv(the boss) won't pay for it. Then they get pissed because Marv won't give them a new truck or trailer. The bosses comment is, they get to drive what they get to drive because of how they take care of what they drive. "Why should I give them new stuff when they won't take care of what they have now".
Click to expand...

I just hope your boss appreciates your approach.

KANSAS TRANSIT · Jul 21, 2012

MNdriver said: ↑

Not trying to ding you. Just was a curiosity question more than anything for me.
Click to expand...

Not taken that way MN D, I posted it on an open forum, I appreciate the feedback, I guess what I am really wondering is this, we all now know how enforcement is approaching the CSA, which is "give them a warning that accumulates points for the driver and carrier, but is not really defensible" because it is not a ticket.

I was just wondering if this was the latest "trick" do a Level 1, if you find nothing just write it up as a Level 2 and less P/W, I just wanted to know if this is an isolated case, or becoming par for the course?

Scalemaster, do YOU guys have stickers available at all times, or do you "run out"? If so WHY?

Thanks Stan

MNdriver · Jul 21, 2012

Rat said: ↑

In my circles, the stickers seem to mean nothing. I have had stickers installed for level 1s and still got stopped the next day. So I don't fret about the sticker deal. I have been level 1ed many times and not gotten a sticker. The main thing is that I passed a level 1 inspection and this looks good for the company and the companies CSA scores. That and I love making the DOT man do some work for a chance. LOL

My favorite thing about getting stopped for an inspection is the comments. They open the side box to see the fire extinguisher and they say WOW, everything is so organized, they look in the cab and see nothing but organized and clean, they start walking around the truck and notice that everything is dam near perfect. "looks like you take alot of pride in the equipment" is another favorite. The boss jokes about how he wishes I would not get DOTed because he is sick of having to pay me a bonus for it everytime.

I love it when I am stopped and told that they are going to do a level 1 and half way through the inspection they come up to me and say that all looks good and they give me a level 1 printout to sign.

There was only 1 time I did not pass an inspection and it was because I did not feel the need to double check our shops work. I had just gotten the trailer out of the shop for a 6 wheel brake job. I did not feel the need to crawl under the trailer to check the slack adjusters since they were supposedly just set up do to the new brakes. I was wrong I guess, I got a warning for two wheels being out of adjustment. The officer commented on the new brake shoes and hardware. I was fuming about it because it just got out of the shop. He only gave me a warning. I grabbed my wrench and crawled under the trailer and set them up right infront of him.

The boss was not happy either, he gave the shop foreman a good chewing out about it and I still got the bonus.

Some might call me annul but I use the yearly inspection sheet as my guideline when going over the truck daily. I do this because I am not perfect and might miss something. When the truck goes into the shop I, I make them go over the lugs with a torque wrench each and everytime since I don't carry one myself.

It really pisses me off when drivers comment that they won't do this type of check overs on the equipment because they don't get paid for the extra time. We have many drivers in our fleet that won't check over their trucks like this because Marv(the boss) won't pay for it. Then they get pissed because Marv won't give them a new truck or trailer. The bosses comment is, they get to drive what they get to drive because of how they take care of what they drive. "Why should I give them new stuff when they won't take care of what they have now".
Click to expand...

Careful there with the torque wrench every time. When I worked for the state, it was "required" that we had to torque the wheels every 1000 miles or once a month. Last fall, we suddenly had a rash of broken studs on most of the snowplows in our shop. Mechanics were not happy with us to say the least. It was attributed to the excessive torquing that the "powers that be" deemed were part of our "1000 mile service". It basically amounted to a driver completing a level 1 inspection on their forms.

KANSAS TRANSIT · Jul 21, 2012

Roadmedic said: ↑

I got a level one at the scale on I-94 around Porter IN.

It was raining. I had received one on Tuesday in Missouri. This was Friday.

The inspector took my paper and did a level one and never left the car.
Click to expand...

This is my concern, are these guys (DOT) being "pushed" to have so many, I'll use the state trooper term, "CONTACTS" (don't say quota's) that it looks bad if they CAN'T find SOMETHING WRONG.

So nitpicking little NON-SAFETY items becomes a must? IF this is the case, then the whole CSA issue could quickly become a total farce. JMHO.

Stan

Tazz · Jul 21, 2012

I now of no requirement to issue a CVSA sticker if your found to not have any violations. Some do some don't. Can someone show me a regulation requiring it.

Also not having been there and going strictly off KT's statements if the officer can not get under the trailer it can not be a level 1 right?

KANSAS TRANSIT · Jul 21, 2012

Tazz said: ↑

I now of no requirement to issue a CVSA sticker if your found to not have any violations. Some do some don't. Can someone show me a regulation requiring it.

Also not having been there and going strictly off KT's statements if the officer can not get under the trailer it can not be a level 1 right?
Click to expand...

Understand what you are saying Tazz, BUT if that is the case and they (DOT) are not prepared, or able to do an unside insp. (no pit) then they shouldn't be doing them, Right?

daf105paccar · Jul 21, 2012

MNdriver said: ↑

Careful there with the torque wrench every time. When I worked for the state, it was "required" that we had to torque the wheels every 1000 miles or once a month. Last fall, we suddenly had a rash of broken studs on most of the snowplows in our shop. Mechanics were not happy with us to say the least. It was attributed to the excessive torquing that the "powers that be" deemed were part of our "1000 mile service". It basically amounted to a driver completing a level 1 inspection on their forms.
Click to expand...

That's why you need to use a wrench with pre adjusted maximum setting.
Over torqueing is as bad as under.

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