Dot Truck Inspections

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by whtlinefvr, Oct 16, 2007.

  1. whtlinefvr

    whtlinefvr Light Load Member

    138
    5
    Aug 14, 2007
    PA
    0
    I've had my log book checked before, but never had my truck inspected. What does the Dot check when they do the truck inspection. Is it inside truck and out? Or is it just outside stuff like brakes, tires, ect?
     
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  3. Pur48Ted

    Pur48Ted Road Train Member

    3,617
    5,979
    Jun 14, 2006
    Grand Rapids, MI
    0
    Level I Inspection

    lights

    * head
    * tail
    * brake
    * turn
    * 4-way
    * marker
    * dash


    Tires
    * wear
    * defects
    * inflation
    * steering
    * free play
    * components


    brakes
    * travel
    * wear
    * cracked, missing parts

    engine/trans
    * (oil leaks)
    * (belts)
    * (exhaust)
    * (coolant leaks)

    air system
    * leaks
    * low pressure cut-off
    * low pressure warning

    safety
    * fire puter-outer
    * triangles

    frame
    * cracked or defective
    * missing componets
    * loose/missing bolts


    Driver
    * CDL
    * medical card
    * Logs

    Truck/Trailer
    * Insurance
    * Registration
    * DOT Inspection


    LOAD
    * BOL
    * Securement



    Level II inspection

    paperwork for truck,trailer, driver and load



    Level III Inspection

    paperwork for driver only



    I probably missed some thing
     
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  4. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    Sounds about right, although last time I was stopped by DOT (in PA), they checked out my coloring book, bills and did a walk-around inspection.

    During the inspect, they found a marker light that was out (that I knew about), but didn't bust my chops because the officer had already wrote me a $120 logbook ticket (I was two hours behind on my logs, whatta stupid move on my part).

    Basically, it is at the officer's discretion as to how hard they look. At the same time the officers were 'lightly' inspecting me, another officer was on a crawler under the truck next to me, and they found a lot of defects on his truck/trailer.
     
  5. whtlinefvr

    whtlinefvr Light Load Member

    138
    5
    Aug 14, 2007
    PA
    0
    Ok thanks....I've just heard stories about them actually getting into the cab of the driver's truck and searching through everything.....duffle bags, refrigerator, ect. Didn't know if that was true or not.
     
  6. BUZZSAW

    BUZZSAW Light Load Member

    176
    15
    Dec 14, 2006
    0
    That would not be "normal" but, if the inspector had reasonable suspicion .....I am sure they could get the right to look through everything.
     
  7. BUZZSAW

    BUZZSAW Light Load Member

    176
    15
    Dec 14, 2006
    0

    WALLBANGER,
    I'm curious about the logbook check....
    1) Was your book current to the last change of "duty status" ?
    2) Normally a logbook only 2 hours behind does not even raise an eyebrow but, if you had some status changes , I guess that could throw a flag on the field....:biggrin_2556:
     
  8. panhandlepat

    panhandlepat Road Train Member

    3,255
    2,243
    Jan 12, 2007
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    that's what I thought current is described as "current up to the last change of duty status"
     
  9. whtlinefvr

    whtlinefvr Light Load Member

    138
    5
    Aug 14, 2007
    PA
    0
    Hear that.....thanks...
     
  10. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    Nope Buzzsaw (and PhP), I had shown getting up, and that's it. There were two hours between my wakey-wakey and when I crossed paths with the DOT officer; I had used the time to eat breakfast, and get the truck washed (streakin' beacon, Carlisle PA). So I was not current to the last change of duty status; had I shown my PTI and put myself on the driveline, I would have been fine.

    The moral of the story, you live and learn, and if you loose-leaf (which I do), then you have NO EXCUSE for not being current on your log!
     
  11. whtlinefvr

    whtlinefvr Light Load Member

    138
    5
    Aug 14, 2007
    PA
    0
    Often I will pad my log book...Let's say I get loaded at 2pm. I will make it look as if I was loaded at 11am. That way I can take a 7 hour break instead of a 10 hour break.
    What happens if I get my log book checked 1 hour into my trip, (3 PM) and the Dot guy says "why did it take you 4 hours to get here, when it should have taken 1 hour?"
    Would this be a violation or isn't that really enough for them to go crazy about?
     
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