I'm not joking.... Federal DOT audit and roadside inspection

They have a right to INSPECT whats covered under your DOT # including all records , trucks , trailers as they see fit.

Its not the BIG deal you make it out to be , show them the truck , if its covered in ICE & SNOW tell them its not scheduled to be dispatched nor has it been in whatever time matches the last log entry for that truck.

 

All you have to due with the truck is go outside and do the following - 1. Write "NOT FOR HIRE" either on the truck or on a big enough piece of paper and attach it to the truck. 2. Cover up the MC & DOT #'s if they are on it. Like flatbed said if your numbers are on it, it's part of your company, so make it so it's not if your worried about it.
At my entrant audit I had a truck parked in my driveway that I was having stuff fixed on. I explained to him that it wasn't road worthy at that time. The auditor is actually the one that told me to do this unless I wanted it inspected. Surprisingly they are not there to get you, they understand that it's not a easy business, and most of them will help you rather than hurt you. They want all carries to understand the rules that's all.

 

Does your state have a program simular to CA's BIT? If so during an inspection they will place any licensed vehicles OOS untill fixed.

 

You can have a little fun with the inspector, and get a good laugh, and he will go away.
You do know he has a computer and he will red flag your company and truck and every piece of equipment you own, you take it on the road and every time you hit a scale, or some inspector flags you pate he will do an inspection, he will get you to Pee in a bottle.
They can make your life, a living hell. Or you could have the truck running and washed, and help him with the inspection and have a much better result.
Life is making choices, and you get to chose.

 

If there is nothing wrong then why are you making a big deal out of it?
The point of these audits are to catch any issues BEFORE the issue takes a life. Sounds to me like you are hiding something here and if it was me I would be a prick to you trying to a pull a fast one. I would expect no lube on this job

 

So to all of you terrified of stuff like this, don't be. Sorry but you were the ONE making a Federal case out of it , most of us offered sound advice from previous audits