Submitting a DVIR

i fill out my DVIR, our trucks are Penske trucks (leased). If I have a problem, when i get back to my location, i drop my trailer and go over to Penske, with the entire DVIR book. they look at the DVIR, and make a repair, sign off, tear out their copy and i take the truck back.

at the end of each work week, whether i have repairs done or not, i tear out the "company copy" and put those in my weekly trip envelope along with my logs, and any other notes to my supervisor.

that's pretty much it, then when my DVIR book is complete and i have to start a new one, i take the completed one home and store it in a box, along with all my log books.

can't get anymore "detail path" than that.........

 

I don't think anybody knows because
a) there are few issues you can note on a DVIR that would not constitute a "safe operation" issue, and as such it would require it to be fixed right away, before it can be operated.
b) the issue is not going to be addressed as the DVIR idea had in mind and eventually drivers say "screw it, this is just the way it's going to be"
c)if every little thing was noted, and the driver could not (or would not) correct it themselves, in the field, the nation's food shelves would be empty in a few days
d)carriers often "do not want" drivers putting issues on the DVIR as this takes away the "plausible deniability" defense.

Basically, items are fixed as needed, where needed, and not noted on DVIR's. And beyond that, shop write-up tickets at company terminals are the go-to means of getting things corrected.

 

This. I've never noted anything needing repair on a DVIR, because either I repair it or I have our shop (or a shop on the road if it's something I can't do) repair it before it hits the road, and thus no reason to note it.

 

you guys are in a much different situation than me and my co-workers. we cannot fix anything, as we are forbidden to. Penske is our leasing company, as such all road service is free as well as repairs. i cannot even buy a headlight light bulb on the road, as we must get those from Penske, and actually, we can at least change out the headlight bulbs only (no turn signal bulbs), and bring them back the burnt out one. so that is the "only repair" we are allowed to do.

it is what it is, and i live by that.

 

When I was a company driver I filled out a defect on the DVIR every day for a couple months. I believe the carrier was responsible to keep those DVIR's on file for so many months back then, the new rule is no keeping records unless defects noted.

The defect I noted was the brake drums were heavily scored and wavy, the brake shoes were matching the waviness. Didn't seem right to me but the truck still stopped fine but I felt it might have been a safety thing and just wrote it down (rookie back then) thinking someone would see it and get the truck in for inspection. Nobody ever said anything and when it was time for an oil change, I moved my crap out and into another tuck and kept going.\\


Edit: nowadays I own my truck so if there is a defect I just take care of it without noting it-- I guess that is wrong. Like I had an air leak while under a load and just kept driving for another day til I got to the terminal to drop trailer and took care of the air leak at that point. If I noted it I would be in violation for not getting it fixed right away. Still in violation but wanted to get the load in so I could get paid on time next week.

 

In the event you are safety-audited, you will have to show receipts or other documented means to show where any DVIR noted defects have were corrected. As well, you have to follow up with the "mechanic's certification" on the same defect having been corrected.

So, the point is, once something is noted on a DVIR, you have opened the door to a lot of other requirements that need to happen later, assuming you are going to be audited and that particular notation found, and is audited, and is investigated to it's completion.

It's a hassle that was carried over from the FAA [and aircraft records] to the trucking industry, which is not as meticulous as A&P mechanics and airlines and aircraft owners are.

 

Yeah I don't know why we get away with it so easy, but every day my DVIR is blank but at the end of the month I usually have a repair or three maintenance receipts that I am required to turn in to my carrier like the air conditioning compressor one night caught on fire and put it in the Petro shop and got it replaced all off duty too.

 

Yeah i'm sure this is a subject that will vary greatly from company to company. My company is open to driver repairs and appreciates it if we grab a mudflap and stick it on ourselves, but it's also not required and we've got plenty who won't even attempt a wiper blade change.

 

I also have never written any defects on DVIR.
Usually the company fixes it at the yard.
Or they will send me some place to get it fixed.
Good luck trying to get a Mechanic signing of on a repair anyway.

Guess it just depends on how your company wants things done.