operational door windows/ dot regs

Do an internet search for FMCSA CMV Requirements.
Not every employee/boss dispute is a matter of FMCSA regulations. One thing I have done back when the Driver's Daily Inspection Report was on paper and was kept for months was to "write-up" a malfunction of equipment and then add the number of times I has already submitted it t the company.
For example, on Day 1: heater produces no heat. On Day 2: heater produces no heat, write-up #2. On Day 3: heater produces no heat, write-up #3, etc., etc. It leaves a paper trail that if discovered in an audit of company records they don't want to be there.

Before you do anything like that decide, if they don't fix the windows are you quitting this job and do you expect with your record, driving experience, location are your sure your next job will be an improvement. If you don't know what you will do if you show the manager a regulation, or you do something to escalate the matter and you get fired or put in the no freight penalty box are you helping or hurting yourself. Only you can protect you. I'm sure many drivers have inflated the minor problem they have into some sort of safety issue when it was mostly a convenience or a matter of feeling respected at the company. In most cases the company managers have far more experience dealing with drivers and trucks than drivers have dealing with managers and trucks. Being pleasant while you wait for parts or whatever is the holdup on the repair, could make our life much easier.

Hopefully, others on TTR will have better advice than mine.

 

OK here - READ THIS CAREFULLY.

§ 393.203 Cab and body components.
(a) The cab compartment doors or door parts used as an entrance or exits shall not be missing or broken. Doors shall not sag so that they cannot be properly opened or closed. No door shall be wired shut or otherwise secured in the closed position so that it cannot be readily opened. Exception: When the vehicle is loaded with pipe or bar stock that blocks the door and the cab has a roof exit.

OK got it??

It does not break down what constitutes door parts, it says the DOORS has to have everyting functioning - NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

You never have to open the window so you can talk to the person or intercom at a shipper's or receiver's gate?

 

Key is
doors or door parts used as an entrance or exits shall not be missing or broken.
After that it mentions opened, closed, readily opened for the door(s).
Does not mention windows or everything in the door must work.
I looked at the DOT Annual Inspection Form and there is nothing about door windows.
Also looked at all of Part 393, anything related to inspections and nothing about windows.
Dragging his feet meaning giving you the runaround? Ask nicely if he plans to fix. If not you could go over his head.

Window is not used as a common or regular entrance or exit. One could argue that in an emergency the window might need to be used.

Functioning heater is required. Poster tscottme brought up issue of writing up no heat.

Next time you are at the scales or see a trooper you could ask about door windows.

 

I’ve never entered or exited a cab thru the window. I’m sure if it were illegal and could lead to a liability issue then Peterbilt wouldn’t have been sending out new 389’s in 21 and 22 without the window switches because they were on national backorder.

 

When I first got my driver’s license in AK, for the driving part the car I was bringing had to have working driver side window because signaling with an arm (like on a motorcycle) was optional…

 

NO it says DOORS and DOOR PARTS, it does not specify what is a door part.

I've been down this road with the state of Illinios and Ohio, violations for non-operating windows. I went to court to get rid of the violation and lost in court because both states considered the door as a whole item and the door parts include ALL parts in the door whether they are for mounting the door, securing it or operating the windows.

The annual form has on it a section that is led by this - "List any other condition which may prevent safe operation of this vehicle."

 

Ok then back to my question. Why would Peterbilt open themselves up to that kind of liability when they shipped countless new trucks from the factory when window switches weren’t available?

And it would be pretty hard to argue that you can’t enter or exit the vehicle properly because the window won’t go down.

 

Unless you are one of them Duke boys …