Logging Pre/Post Trip Insp.

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by knlken, Oct 21, 2010.

  1. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

    6,311
    14,428
    Jan 18, 2011
    0
    I think this is the 5-6 post that says this--if you are a company driver--do it the way they want! Simple
    As for me--I flag a pre-trip and show a VI during my 15min fuel everyday--then flag a post trip--when I fill inspection report out.
    BUT--and this is a big but--I drive the same truck and pull the same trailer always--and I am the only one who does--So I audit my own logs and have had more than one DOT types tell me--they do not worry as much about guys like me--they can tell my trucks in good shape-and they know I see it all the time--big difference from a company guy that may pull multiple trailers in a day and/or slipseat.
    Just my$.02
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. scottied67

    scottied67 Road Train Member

    10,786
    12,491
    Mar 14, 2010
    california norte
    0
    My company likes to go Above and Beyond-- log 15 minutes pre And post trip. If you want to split your sleeper berth time, log 15 minutes pre and post trip again for each break-- 2 and 8. They also want to see 15 minutes on Line 1 before you start your 8 hours in the bunk and 15 more minutes after you come out of the bunk on Line 1 again so you ended up actually burning up 11.5 hours off duty/sleeper. This is why they discourage split sleepers. That's what they Want, however sometimes when I was using that split for time advantage I would do only what is required in the book and never got popped for it.
     
  4. trucker_101

    trucker_101 Heavy Load Member

    941
    639
    Apr 23, 2010
    Alberta
    0
    ______________________________________________
    Your Q: Could someone point me to the DOT Reg that says you have to put a pre-trip inspection on your log book?

    Answer: § 396.11Driver vehicle inspection report(s).
    (a) Report required. (1) Motor carriers.
    ___________________________________________________

    § 396.11Driver vehicle inspection report(s).
    (a) Report required. (1) Motor carriers. Every motor carrier must require its drivers to report, and every driver must prepare a report in writing at the completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated. The report must cover at least the following parts and accessories:
    'Service brakes including trailer brake connections
    'Parking brake
    'Steering mechanism
    'Lighting devices and reflectors
    'Tires
    'Horn
    'Windshield wipers
    'Rear vision mirrors
    'Coupling devices
    'Wheels and rims
    'Emergency equipment
    <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2011
    Bank_Lbr Thanks this.
  5. Yatista

    Yatista Medium Load Member

    479
    206
    Jan 25, 2009
    Upstate New York
    0
    The regulation quoted requires completing a written report at the end of your trip / work day. If you read the entire section it will tell you where to get the information to complete the report. It does not require an additional inspection, and if you read the FAQ's at their website that will be further clarified. The requirement for a pre trip inspection is covered in a different regulation.

    That's not to say that you shouldn't do a walk around and tire check when you park for your 10, but, that the pre trip is the primary "thorough inspection to verify the safety of the cmv before operating".
     
  6. Scalemaster

    Scalemaster Heavy Load Member

    808
    1,716
    Mar 13, 2011
    Midwest
    0
    Where did the idea of "just flag the pre-trip and show 15 minutes for the post-trip" come from?

    Just because it takes you less than 15 minutes that does not mean the on-duty time spent on a pre-trip just goes away.

    In the interpretation section of 395.8, it explains how to show time less than 15 minutes in your log.

    395.8 Interpretations
    Question 1: How should a change of duty status for a short period of time be shown on the driver's record of duty status?
    Guidance: Short periods of time (less than 15 minutes) may be identified by drawing a line from the appropriate on-duty (not driving) or driving line to the remarks section and entering the amount of time, such as "6 minutes," and the geographic location of the duty status change.

    There is no specified time for a pre-trip inspection. Just show the actual time it takes you.
     
  7. ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

    6,311
    14,428
    Jan 18, 2011
    0
    I think the idea of logging post trip/or pre trip flagging--from what I can see of posts here--has to do with individual companies--their safety directors and company policies--not any true DOT rules or regs--I've had and heard this conversation with many company drivers(I'M Not)and each seems to have their own story--but mostly from what I have heard--the info came from some type of company policy--which I assume(I know bad word)comes from said companies policy--which frankly I have always said(as I did in my earlier post)that if that is what your company want you to do then that is what you should do.
    Now i do know a retired driver/major carrier safety director that is a driving instructor at a tech school near here--he tells me when he was a safety director--their company policies were derived from past D-O-T Audits and what they(his particular company)learned from the audit.
    Just my $.02
     
  8. tonymann1800

    tonymann1800 Light Load Member

    80
    0
    Jan 1, 2009
    Sanford Fl
    0
    I would keep it a minimum of 15 min. or more in the event you were to be involved in an accident. The lawyers will eat you up even with a 15min pre-trip.
     
  9. recgar

    recgar Bobtail Member

    5
    1
    Jan 6, 2011
    Boise, ID
    0
    but the fun part about that is we can eat them alive right back - just refer back to this discussion, and we all know more about this than most lawyers do - we also live by these rules and look at the confusion there is - make sure you are in compliance with FMCSA regs, as well as company policy, on your logs and reports. Those idiot lawyers will always try to eat you alive no matter what, so prove their own stupidity in court.
     
  10. Trucker Jake Breeze

    Trucker Jake Breeze Bobtail Member

    3
    1
    Apr 24, 2018
    0
    I have only seen in dot book that flag pretrip I usually do 5 minutes check and make tire's are still at right air pressure and lights in work condition and no one have sabotage my truck in the book that shows you have to do a 15-minute post-trip that is at the end of your day and only flag of five minute pre-trip checking my lights etcetera most of this 15-minute post-trip and 15-minute pre-trip is company policy not by dot regulations you only have to show 15-minute drop and hook 15 minutes loading 15 minutes fuel thats what DOT regulations read the book so again I show a 5-minute pre-trip 15-minute post-trip that should take care and make everyone happy you are truly you only have to show one of the other on 15 minutes it don't make no sense to show a 15-minute pre-trip and a 15-minute post-trip you're just wasting your time and your money Wheels ain't turning you ain't earning companies make their own rules but. Dot rules should matter not company policies . Dot should make it plain and be a federal law not a company law the law is the law and I was told by. That you only had to show 15 minutes on pre-trip or post-trip one of the other that's all
     
  11. eek111

    eek111 Light Load Member

    57
    91
    Mar 4, 2014
    Memphis, TN
    0
    There should be a law against resurrecting 7 year old threads. JMO :confused:
     
    Bank_Lbr Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.