Self annual inspection on your truck?

Reputable shops - no problem. But being forced to pay someone to try to find something wrong, so they can then charge you to fix it, rubs me the wrong way.

We'll have the local shop that we use do one if we have the truck in there for something else and the inspection is due, but we do most of them ourselves.

We still have manual slacks on two trucks though, so we're just plain weird.

 

Amazon have them for sure

 

Lol

 

This (Ridgline's) is the only correct post so far. You cannot just place sticker on TT and call it done. On the long form, among all other blanks you need to fill, you must state that the inspector meets one of these criteria listed his post. If you are an independent (I like to call it that way, rather than o/o) the annual inspection question will pop up in case of accident. Lawyer will place his/hers post and ask question, where was training done and who issued certificate, or where was one year shop claimed experiance. And if you don't have an answer to that question you loose case and hope you will not go to jail for not being qualified inspector. Now, the annual inspection is a must and it is only valid until the first DOT inspection that results in violation or OOS. That means you must do annual inspection every day, but for that one done annual (minimum standards) you must have qualifications. There is a form, like in anything else in Trucking, that you may or must fill and keep on file. In that form you can choose one of the listed lines - criteria you may have to have to qualify you as an inspector. It is imperative that the independents, owner of one truck company, or even 2, 3 or 3000 trucks read and understand the FMCSAr (large, 700 pgs) book, and try to keep the business within the regulations. Just read the boards along freeway saying "Hit by big truck call 1800 Lawyer". They know that among so many regs there must be some trucking company missed to do. From DQ files, D&A testing, Vehicle maintenance, record keeping etc... Please do not go by I heard, read it and find in regulations. If it is not there, do not do it. Once we all are on the same page, we may all get in sync and hug that book of regulations like our wives and come up to market stating, these are our regulations, we will conduct our business within, and we will agree that there should be at least minimum rate under which one one will take any load to move. Then we will not have a need for brokers transparency. Let's shippers ask for that. I hope you understand where I am coming from.

 

I was inspected 2x last year both times I asked about this...... when listing the qualifications needed to do an annual inspection, both inspectors listed the qualifications with the word "or"

Ive been doing my own for years now.

 

I am not lashing on you, just use to respectfully add on. As long that "or" makes you qualified you are good. During the DOT level 1 & 2 inspections they will not dig deep beyond to check all required is presented and attached. The question will pop up only in beyond, during the audit or court. You can find form and authorize your self (must) to perform even brake inspections. I do consult some Trucking companies here and there, and I always say to owners and drivers, the OOS is the least you need to be focused on. That is either sleep for ten hrs., or call someone to fix it. Yes, you'll loose time and money but hey, tomorrow is another sunny day. What you need to focus on is the big thing. It sounds silly, but not every inspecting officer knows all. That is why not all conduct audits. With one mil in liability insurance per occurrence, lawyers ensure they know all. Here is the example. If you are independent you must know when you need to go to drug and alcohol test. In case of accident under certain scenario you must do alco and drug post accident test. So local or state cops show up, do their thing and you ask am I OK to go? They say yes go and tomorrow you failed on drug and alco rule. So the best case is that anyone in desire to own one or 1 million units trucking company knows regs and try to the best ability to adhere to and protect them selves in that way.

 

As some one who has been through 2 reconstructions, nothing has ever been asked other then where is the sticker/form

 

Bingo! It does not mean they will or must ask. Lesser they ask we are better. And do not volunteer to give more than asked. What I am arguing is not if they will ask or not. I am pointing along with Ridgeline into regulations and what is needed to be in compliance. In case of accident it may be crucial to prove that one who signed the annual inspection has qualifications to do so. But if not asked answer is not needed.

 

Another "trucking consultant" trying to tell everybody they are wrong.. the law simply states the company must keep records on your maitnenace person being qualified to perform maintenance. Most owner ops who do their own work are more qualified then the dope heads at the truck stop shops...Besides, part of recieving your CDL A is knowing how to perform an inspection properly which would certify any driver under the guidelines in the regulations you are reffering to...
Please post any court cases where something like this has been overturned and found the indpendent to not be qualified. Im willing to bet its never happened and its just heresay from the safety dopes collecting their "consulting" fee.

 

You're correct about every inspecting officer not knowing it all. Me and the South Carolina DOT who inspected me agreed to disagree about why im e-log exempt. He kept looking at the model year of my truck vs the engine year. He said I need to carry something saying im elog exempt, which of course there is no guidance and couldnt be any further from the truth.