Log Book Technicality

In all fairness.....if you really, REALLY want to get technical....one person cannot complete a pretrip solo. I'm sure this will be argued but I've still never seen a satisfactory explanation on how one driver can apply the service brakes and check the travel, slack adjusters, etc at the same time.

I agree with you that a proper pre-trip would take more than 15 minutes. However, I don't see as to what relevance that would have on a court case unless there was a mechanical failure that led to the accident. Even in that scenario, if a prosecutor (or ambulance chaser in a civil case) was trying to prove his point or derail my case with that argument when the accident was not predicated by a mechanical failure, I would simply turn it around on him. Especially if the 4 wheeler was at fault. A car failing to yield right of way by running a red light in an intersection or changing lanes on top of me while talking/texting on the cell phone has no correlation with whether or not I did a lengthy enough pretrip in the opinion of a police officer. I guess somebody could stretch it by saying "If the driver had taken 15 more minutes on his pre-trip then he would not have been entering the intersection at the same time as my client willfully disobeyed a traffic signal and failed to yield right of way leading to this collision."

You see my point?

 

You are correct and we've derailed this debating a mutilated horse corpse in this forum. DVIR is completed at the end of the trip for the day. I don't believe its required to be on the same log sheet page and can be done as a separate page. However, if this is done, then any cost savings from ordering the shorter log books would be negated from having to purchase the addtional DVIR loose leaf books.

 

My discussion was with our safety director( Ret. Tx D.O.T. Officer) On logging requirements for pre and post trip inspections. Reading from the Big Book Of DOT. WE were told a walk around (flagged) for Pre-trip and a more detailed inspection (15 min. line 4) Post-trip is what was required to satisfy LOGGING requirements with DVIR being completed at end of day.

 

ChemSoldier You just showed your time behind the wheel....

What is the first thing any DOT officer does when performing a DOT inspection level 3 wait for it hold on you will get it.. HE Places a CHOCK on the ground behind or in front of a tire. In some states the put two why do they do this... So they can check the brakes.

I know most drivers do not carry wheel chocks, but if you have a combination you too can check the brakes first set the tractor brake and release the trailer check the trailer brakes, then set the trailer brake and release the tractor brakes.. If you checked them and they are adjusted correctly the rig won't move...

Just a FYI and a PTI can be done in 15 minutes..

TO the OP a DVIR is usually filled out PRIOR to departing this is to document any issues found with the truck, suppose your driver performs this task goes down the road and a marker light goes out. IF it was working when he/she performed he PTI and notated it on the DVIR and it happened in route..
Some companies require a DVIR at the start of and at the end of the drivers DAY.. they cover their tails with both hands. In todays world where everyone is so happy to Sue anyone for anything going above the required DOT regulations can sometimes be a benefit... Most drivers will whine about doing to much work, yet they sit on their duff all day long.

 

The regulation is 392.7 which states
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Regulations current to Aug 30, 2012​

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[SIZE=-2]Examples: Medical Form, 391.53, 391[/SIZE] ​

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Part 392 [/TD]
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• Disclaimer
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Subpart A - General

§ 392.7Equipment, inspection and use. (a) No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that the following parts and accessories are in good working order, nor shall any driver fail to use or make use of such parts and accessories when and as needed: Service brakes, including trailer brake connections.Parking (hand) brake.Steering mechanism.Lighting devices and reflectors.Tires.Horn.Windshield wiper or wipers.Rear-vision mirror or mirrors.Coupling devices. (b) Drivers preparing to transport intermodal equipment must make an inspection of the following components, and must be satisfied they are in good working order before the equipment is operated over the road. Drivers who operate the equipment over the road shall be deemed to have confirmed the following components were in good working order when the driver accepted the equipment: Service brake components that are readily visible to a driver performing as thorough a visual inspection as possible without physically going under the vehicle, and trailer brake connections.'Lighting devices, lamps, markers, and conspicuity marking material'Wheels, rims, lugs, tires'Air line connections, hoses, and couplers'King pin upper coupling device'Rails or support frames'Tie down bolsters'Locking pins, clevises, clamps, or hooks'Sliders or sliding frame lock[33 FR 19732, Dec. 25, 1968, as amended at 60 FR 38746, July 28, 1995; 73 FR 76823, Dec. 17, 2008; 74 FR 68708, Dec. 29, 2009]
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IF you click the interpretation link in that post you will see that YOU do not have to prepare a written report of a PTI.

If is optional. Not mandatory

 

You just proved my point. It requires two people with or without chock blocks There is no way that one person can physically depress the brake pedal while at the same time being under the truck checking the travel and function of the brakes. Setting the brakes using the valves is defeating the purpose as its not testing the function of the foot (or service) brakes. In the commercial world you are 100% correct, I'm a rookie at 2 years. However, all the heavy vehicles we used in Army Transportation are air pressurized spring brakes that work identically. And whether using a tractor, single 5 ton truck, or combination, our checks still involved a second operator or mechanic to verify function. This is why the DOT inspector is checking the brakes while telling the driver to depress the pedal. Otherwise, I'd just stand on the side and tell him to do it himself right?

I understand your point though and I'm not trying to be combative or argumentative. I think a lot of these laws and regs leave a lot of gray area that the fed gov or other powers that be just don't really know what to do about. Its the product of pencil pushers in DC that are well-meaning and safety oriented but have no idea of the actual conditions in the field. Unfortunately, like anything with a lot of vagary (like the Constitution), its open to interpretation by whomever is legally authorized to do so at that moment.

 

My carrier got burned in an audit for using the DVIR's in log books . You only have two copies . The tractor and trailer each get a copy which has to be checked as part of the pretrip plus a copy needs to be turned in .

 

Really ? Then why is checking the DVIR part of the pretrip ?