Time on pretrip?

It might take longer than 15 miniutes but if you would like to burn up a chuck of that 14 hour clock logging exactally how long it takes be my guest. We will continue to only log it 15 min and make more money because we have a little more time to run. little more time in a day will equal to a few more miles times that by 5-7 days it will add up quickly.
I do alot more vehicle inspections and only do the pretrip once a week.
I check all of my fluids every stop sometimes every other stop depending on the fuel stops.
If I hit two fuel stops in a day then I would only check it once and then again before pulling out from my 10 hour break.
I check my 5th wheel after each stop you never know when someone will pull the release on the 5th wheel.

 

I had forgotten about that dirty little trick (haven't been in the seat for 8 years). Some people have a sick sense of humor.

 

DOT does not require you to pre-trip all those items.
They require you to post-trip all them items.

Pre-trip is only to make sure you are satisfied.

§392.7 Equipment, inspection and use.


No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order, nor shall any driver fail to use or make use of such parts and accessories when and as needed:

Service brakes, including trailer brake connections.

Parking (hand) brake.

Steering mechanism.

Lighting devices and reflectors.

Tires.

Horn.

Windshield wiper or wipers.

Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.

Coupling devices.




§392.7 Equipment, Inspection, and Use


Question 1: Must a driver prepare a written report of a pretrip inspection performed under §392.7?

Guidance: No.

Question 2: Must both drivers of a team operation comply with the provisions of §392.7 before driving?

Guidance: §392.7 states that a driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in good working order before operating the vehicle. If a driver is satisfied with a co-driver's inspection, or a safety lane inspection, then the requirement of this section will have been met.


I can not find the post-trip information but it's posted around here in one of the threads titled post-trip or pre-trip.

The post-trip has to be done in writting and if repairs are needed you sign the post-trip on the pre-trip inspection stating it was done and you are now safe. YOu only sign it once it's fixed and when you have finished your pre-trip.

What goes wrong if your truck is parked for a 10 hour break (talking solo drivers). That's what should definately be checked on your pre-trip and then some like look under the trailer etc

 

Do any OTR drivers every mark when something is wrong and get it signed? I never actually did that. When something was broke I got it fixed. Not sure of the reason for this. Also, doing flatbed, if I stop for pee break and check my straps I put it as off duty but flag as load check/break. Because it does not take that long to grab a few chains or wrench a couple of straps, Is this a problem?

 

I'm OTR - and if I find something that needs fixed in order to run safe, darn right I'll hack it and sit until it's fixed. So far, fortunately, it's all little annoying stuff that I log mostly to keep my sitdownupon covered (minor dings/dents that were there when I took over the truck and have no bearing on safety)

I log my pre-trip typically as 15 minutes - though the one I did in Butte MT the other day was a bit over half an hour - and I logged it as such.

I flag my post-trips.

 

That's how I used to do it, set a new bungee cord, bang the chains or pop the straps on the way by, if one was loose, tighten it up, log it as a "load check" without using up any on duty time and I never had a problem doing that.

I pull a van now, and aside from THAT stigma (you have to be a flat-bedder to understand that reference) it pays better, and no load checks.

But strangely enough, I miss the skateboards, especially the step decks.

On the topic of filling out the post trip report... the law requires that your company keep all documentation (to be used against you ) in the event of an audit of your logs. That means that if the company has a receipt of you having a repair being made, or a flat fixed, and you don't log that as being done? You just got a violation. It probably wont happen to you, unless you run over a car or into the ditch, and then the DOT will find all those "omissions" and your case will become a lot weaker.

 

The original company I started with were very strict with all regulations, including logbooks. You have to show a 15 minute inspection. It doesn't have to be logged before you drive, or after you drive. Just as long as you log a 15 minute vehicle inspection.
I have always done a pre-trip inspection, and logged it as such. After that, I don't log any other inspection. But, every time I get out of the truck I look at everything.
Never had a logbook violation, and never failed a dot inspection.

 

LoneRanger,
I know what your saying about flats. I am going back to driving and have to decide on flats or vans. I liked the length of haul on the flats, plus they would deadhead you crazy distances to get to loads. It would be kind of nice to not have to tarp in 40mph winds or subzero temps or that darn phoenix heat.
Side note: I too am a huge follower of WOTM, Todd Friel is awesome. I have witnessed with a few of those guys before.

 

There is no set time period as everyone has all ready posted. One (either pertrip or post trip) has to be logged for at least 15 minutes & the other can just be flagged.

Also, the law states..."No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order".

It doesn't say that you have to be the one who does the inspection, just that you're "satisfied". A mechanic or someone that you feel is capabe can do the pre/post trip for you. Not that I'd do that, just some FYI.

 

I've had several conversations with DOT orficers about this. Big dif depending on whether you drive same truck/pull same trailer all the time, and no one else ever drives it. I often pay my mechanic an extra hour on a repair visit to look truck over. That is on the reciept in the truck too. Then every week or so I'll have a 2-4 hour post trip where I do some maint work myself and what I did is in the log book. If I was getting in a truck after another person (wheel wrestler) had driven it, it'd take me at least the fifteen minutes and I would log it. You look stupid in front of DOT if you don't. Especially if there's an accident. Doesn't make a dif if it's trucking or any other business, Rule Numero Uno is "Cover thine own rear end first". Of course wasting 3-5 hours a week in log time doesn't hurt a guy that only works 50-60 hrs a week.
Dave