You want to make sure your log book is current! If it's not current you will get a fine more than likely. They are cracking down on this.

One of my drivers was in Canada and got shut down for 72 hours! He didn't have 14 days worth of logs. Which Canada does require the last 14 days.

Medical Card is another I believe you must have, however I am not 100% sure all drivers need it but I am thinking 100% all drivers do need it

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"Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."

yup- you are are required to carry with you at all time (when driving) your CDL and your Med card - there's a reason it's made to fit into your wallet.

I got stopped last Monday by the CHiP- three times for the same infraction. That was such fun. Chippies 2 and 3 were cool about it ("oh,you've just been stopped, thank you,continue on your way).

Well, actually, they were all cool about it. Professional and as friendly as the job allows.

CHiP 1 wanted DL, Registration, and logs. Freaked him a little that I'd already logged the start of the traffic stop

Took him all of about 10 minutes to do the cop thing and hand me a fixit ticket.

Edit: Note - this is not "what you need", as the OP requested. Just what I was asked for.

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Keep the big doors at the back!

Not all states give a wallet card.

I was rear-ended like 3 months ago. DPS only asked for insurance, registration for tractor/trailer, med card and DL. Because the driver of the car was clearly at fault, he didn't do an inspection on the truck and I didn't have to go to drug/alcohol test.

Last year, I was pulled over for the purposes of an inspection. Same thing as above, plus wanted to see my log book. I don't carry a log book since I am a local driver, I produced the trip sheet that I have for each trip I make, which was sufficient for him. He asked for nothing else.

Before that, I was pulled over by the Feds for a total truck inspection - every inch of that truck from end to end, belly to roof, was inspected. Same thing as the first time I mentioned - and they asked for nothing else. In fact, they didn't even ask to see a log or trip sheet. They did such a thorough inspection and it passed, that they put a sticker on the windshield which covered that truck for an annual inspection for the next 12 months!

If you have your ducks in a row, you don't have to worry. If you don't, be prepared for them to ask for everything they can think of. My take - don't give them a hard time. I never have - I know many drivers that get a tude' with DOT and DOT gives them the tude' right back in their face, plus usually at least one ticket.

I have a wallet card - but I've found DOT prefers to see the long form - I just carry that in my truck at all times.

TrooperRat,
That sticker does NOT prevent another inspection for 12 months.


I have 2 stickers on my truck. 1 was green from January 08. The latest, thanks to Wyoming, is orange and I got it last Friday.

I had my first DOT inspection yesterday. In Carlisle Pa.
He asked for my license, medical card, log book, vehicle registration and proof of insurance.
All if which he took to his SUV before he proceeded inspecting the truck. I was polite and friendly, an attitude he returned in kind. The entire inspection took an hour. Lights, steering components, horns etc.
He then got on his creeper and spent a long time under the truck inspecting pretty much everything.
He wrote up a misaligned brake shoe on the trailer, the trailer ABS light being on, an oil leak on the compressor, ( the last two I mentioned to him before he saw them ), and he found an exhaust leak under the sleeper.
The exhaust leak alarmed me a bit, as I always check the exhaust as part of my post trip and I never found it. He told me it was small, and impossible to see unless you were comepletely under the truck.
I asked him if that would put me out of service, I was only 4 blocks from our Carlisle facility. Jokingly, I asked him to please put it out of service, as then I wouldn't have to take the run into New Jersey
He chuckled and told me, "nope, you're going to Jersey, it's not that bad a leak".
All in all, it wasn't that bad an experience. Of course, logging as I do it and actually doing the daily inspections, as well as displaying a good attitude probably didn't hurt.

How far behind is "not current"? Say you came from line one (home) and went to line 3 at 6am, then get inspected at say 11am but you didn't mark anything between 6am and 11am.............is that not current or OK. What are the fines for not being current in US and or Canada?



In regards to the stickers - CVSE decal will get you a pass for the remainder of that quarter.

I have been dot'd where the last stop was 6.5 hours. I logged it the way I drove it. No problems.

As far as the sticker...
I know a driver that got one in Washington one day. The next day in Oregon and 2 days later another in California.

Basically, look at this way. They know you passed once and therefore you might again. They just might do one.

I figured it was ok but no ones ever looked. I drive local and rarely exceed 11 hours start to finish so most days I just draw a straight line all the way across except those rare days I do go over and load/unload plus customs gives me plenty of time in line 4.

First time they stickered me the inspector (BC) said I would get waved through till the end of the quarter. In reality it seems to be longer as I didn't get another for better than a year - maybe I was just lucky.