Is a post trip inspection officially required by D.O.T.?

Really? Dang... there's a lot of drivers going to jail then. Unless you are just overstating things a wee bit. I'd be interested in seeing a reference to the LAW that requires this.

You understand there's a huge difference between LAWS and REGULATIONS?

...because what windsmith and CondoCruiser posted is correct. There's not one statement in the FMCSRs that requires any kind of inspection.

 

I do both and check whenever I get out of the truck for anything.

 

With Qualcomm you have to log a minimum of 5 minutes on any change of duty status for it to "take". After 5 minutes it will record to the minute. I log a 5 minute post trip and a 15 minute pre trip, more if there are "issues".

 

Here we go again.

Do you know the difference between a BOOK and a BOOK REPORT?

I'll bet you do.

Then why the confusion between an INSPECTION and an INSPECTION REPORT?

If the regulations you posted demand an actual inspection at the end of your shift, then you would be required to inspect every vehicle you operated that day at the end of your shift.

Does that mean I have to get in my car and drive 400 miles to inspect the trailer I dropped in Tacoma, WA?

 

i always duly note .25-hours PreTI on line 4 . I flag PostTI but have nevet allocated any time to it. No one (DOT or employer) has ever had a problem with my logging.

 

Although much good advice has been offered here, the answer to your original question lies in FMCSA's regulatory guidance.

Question 2: Does §396.11 require that the power unit and the trailer be inspected?
Guidance: Yes. A driver must be satisfied that both the power unit and the trailer are in safe operating condition before operating the combination.


Question 25: Section 396.11 requires the driver, at the completion of each day’s work, to prepare a written report on each vehicle operated that day. Does this section require a "post trip inspection" of the kind described in §396.15?
Guidance: No. However, the written report must include all defects in the parts and accessories listed in §396.11(a) that were discovered by or reported to the driver during that day.

Additionally, a driver should be familiar with the wording in state regulations. For instance California's Title 13 reads as follows:

13 CCR § 1215
§ 1215. Vehicle Condition.

(a) General. It shall be unlawful for the driver to drive a vehicle that is not in safe operating condition or is not equipped as required by all provisions of law and this chapter.


(b) Daily Inspection. Pursuant to Sections 1202.1 and 1202.2, all drivers shall perform vehicle inspections and submit written reports in accordance with the requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 396.11 and 396.13, as follows:

(1) Before driving a motor vehicle, the driver shall:


(A) Inspect each vehicle daily to ascertain that it is in safe operating condition and equipped as required by all provisions of law, and all equipment is in good working order;


(B) Review the last vehicle inspection report;


(C) Sign the report, only if defects or deficiencies were noted by the driver who prepared the report, to acknowledge that the driver has reviewed it and that there is a certification pursuant to subsection (f) that the required repairs have been performed. The signature requirement does not apply to listed defects on a towed unit which is no longer part of the vehicle combination.




(2) Subsections (B) and (C) do not apply to school bus drivers or publicly owned and operated transit system drivers.


(c) Daily Report. Every motor carrier shall require its drivers to report, and every driver shall prepare a report in writing at the completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated. School bus drivers' reports shall cover at least the items listed in subdivision (d), and all other drivers' reports shall cover at least the following parts and accessories:

(1) Service brakes including trailer brake connections


(2) Parking (hand) brake


(3) Steering mechanism


(4) Lighting devices and reflectors


(5) Tires


(6) Horn


(7) Windshield wipers


(8) Rear vision mirrors


(9) Coupling devices


(10) Wheels and rims


(11) Emergency equipment

 

For paper loggers...one of the comments said you have to show 15 minutes on paper because that is the smallest increment. The regs say "log what you do, as you do it". If a pre-trip only takes you 10 minutes to complete, then, in the comment section, flag the pretrip and write "City, State ---PTI 10 minutes. Problem solved. You have logged your pre-trip as it was actually done and you didn't burn 15 minutes on a 10 minute inspection.

 

Setting aside the original question. During school, we were told that a good quick post trip is important because you can have the problem fixed off the clock (tire, light, whatever).