Voluntary DOT Inspections

If you are a CA based Carrier....you are required to do a Monthly, Quarterly, and after my last BIT...I found out that you as a carrier, may also perform your annual inspections.....

Point being....You should catch any deficiencies before DOT does....Especially with CSA in full force.....



CSA will actually help you to avoid getting pulled in if you are squared away......

 

When you say voluntary do you mean you walk in with paperwork in hand and ask for an inspection?

 

Not sure how this is a factor if you are a carrier with 1-5 trucks. Last I heard from CHP and IL Troopers is that they see what you have done in each state as you pass a scale. In GA when had paperwork checked a happy driver that just passed with flying colors asked what his score was. They said they didn't know and gave him a phone number and website.

Larger carriers can have issues in each state if they have been having issues on inspections. But that is on a state level.

 

Huh, would never dawn on me to even try that. Be afraid of getting violation for some stupid mistake.

Hesperia - I lived in Big Bear for years. Miss Big Bear - not CA.

 

I used to get voluntary inspections when I ran CA. The inspectors were always willing and friendly.

 

IMHO--Cal used to be this way--hasn't been my experience last 10 years or so--still very professional--but not as friendly etc. as they used to be--but did have one inspector # Castaic--thank me for being--polite and professional--as I did him--and we had a quick conversation about the things he see's/hears lately--and I can see where more and more professional Diesel Bears can get grumpy--As for voluntary--I used to do it at home(Florida)quite a bit--especially after the new super coops went up on 75&95--just easier to keep fresh CVSA stickers on truck/trailer--and they are still cool about it--BUT with cutbacks etc....often they do not have enough manpower(when they aren't inspecting)to always do it.
just my $.02

 

Do not know if this has anything to do with csa but the last few times i've bin stoped the inspecter ran my dot# looked at my score and said have a nice day. I asked the last cop what it was and its a 53 which he said is very good for a small guy like me, just looked at my log real quick and so long. As far as asking for an inspection no thanks you never know what kind of inspecter you might get that might just bust your chops even if they find nothing.

 

Not for or against it, but CSA scores show a state trooper a lot more than safestat did... kind of a blown-up set of numbers that give more detail - like how many trucks have been placed out of service per the number of inspections - that'd be a great indicator if he/she needed to look at you closer.