Taking a Mid Trip inspection

@Big_D409 hot the nail on the head. Proper pre- and post-trial inspections are part of the job. So is properly fixing or (in the case of those of us who own) repairing any issues.

 

It’s all good, but why affect the good drivers who are properly inspecting their equipment? Target the ones who are getting violations, particularly the obvious ones like missing mud flaps, lights not working, and so on.

 

Sometimes the shop can be 2 hour wait or longer just to get into a bay . It is very hard to find that extra time on a load especially if u not getting paid for it

 

One inspection every 3 months isn’t bad, but some drivers are pulling different trailers every week. So you can be getting a trailer that needs a new DOT inspection every 2 weeks. Now the OP is talking about getting a DOT inspection every week or so! That’s crazy. I’ll demand some pay, or I’ll find another company.

 

Why is he not asking the questions of the drivers he manages? <<--- my point

 

Punishing a driver for missing something minor on an inspection is going to create a nit picky winey bunch of drivers that will not except a manager telling them to run it. You will spend all your time trying to fix the slightest noise or vibration.
But nobody can be running with flat tires and lights out. Some where there is a happy middle where frieght is moving safely down the road.
A company needs to work as a team with the office working with the drivers who get along with the mechanics in the shop.

 

More work for zero extra money? Drivers should leap at the chance.

 

I have a question. Do you equip your trucks with spare bulbs, gladhand seals and the like? I carry bubs for every light on my truck and replacement lights for the trailer.

When I find a bad one I fix it right there and replenish my stock the next time I go through a terminal. It might be a good idea to include those items on the truck AND train drivers that don’t know how to fix them to swap them.

I still think the mid trip is stupid though.

 

If trucks are constantly rolling into the yard with bald tires and lights not working sounds like it starts with the equipment to begin with. Tires should last 100k miles minimum. Heck I got 350k on my drives now. That’s 3 1/2 years of driving. I can’t remember the last time I had a light out on the truck or trailer and my junk is 20 years old.

Sounds to me like junk is being sent out of the yard. If the company gives me junk out of the yard they shouldn’t be shocked when it comes back looking worse.

Maybe start by walking around your own yard or hiding around the corner while your mechanics talk and listen to what they are saying.

My guess is you need to start in your own house first? Guessing your equipment is junk and you can only get low rent drivers which compounds the issue. Lol

But this is just one opinion on the internet.