Never been through DOT inspection

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jdm5jdm5, Jun 11, 2016.

  1. Jdm5jdm5

    Jdm5jdm5 Light Load Member

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    What exactly do they look for as far as brakes go? Mainly the width of the pads?
     
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  3. alghazi

    alghazi Road Train Member

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    Yeah. They're from the government and they're here to help. (rolls eyes)
     
  4. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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    Exhibit A
     
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  5. alghazi

    alghazi Road Train Member

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    My comment was directed less at DOT and more at your virtue-signaling defense of them.
     
  6. DDlighttruck

    DDlighttruck Road Train Member

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    HUT sticker, annual safety, IFTA paperwork, valid insurance slip. Owner ships for truck AND trailer.

    Fire extinguisher and triangles are part of your pretrip. It's a fine and points for not using triangles if you break down.

    Having some way to depress the brake pedal so you can check brake lights/stroke length.

    If you pull van, make sure the walls are straight so you don't get an OOS for being overwidth.

    If you need to scale after loading, GO AROUND THE WEIGH STATIONS (chicken coops) and find a CAT scale. THEN get on the road and go into the coop. Oh, they'll scale you, you just might not like how much they charge you vs. the $10 at a Peelot.
     
  7. ChaoSS

    ChaoSS Road Train Member

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    That depends. Some guys are really cool. I got a level one a month or so back, no problems. After he finished his inspection he dragged me back under the trailer to show me some stuff that wasn't necessarily a violation, but probably could have been if he felt like being a dick, but he wanted to show me things that he felt I should keep an eye on in the future because they were getting close. (tire stuff).

    Other places have no sense of humor, and they are looking to ruin drivers. There are guys who will brag about being able to find violations on a new truck or trailer, and places that you probably will not get out of them without being written up for something.
     
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  8. DustyRoad

    DustyRoad Road Train Member

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    After spending how much time and money to learn what your job requires you to daily, you ask us what does the dot man look for? He is looking to see if you are doing your job correctly. Skip a pre-trip? Failure to keep your log up to date, failure to have all the permits in order, medical certificates...?.There's a good chance they can do a vehicle inspection better than you, and one day they will prove it. You have to be better at it than they are. You better known every detail on that truck before the cops find it and write up you and the vehicle.

    Bottom line, your company does not want dirty inspections.
     
  9. Bob Dobalina

    Bob Dobalina Road Train Member

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    He may be, but when you insult someone's intelligence it is important to use proper spelling and punctuation, like this:
    "You're an idiot."
     
  10. JAYRODPA

    JAYRODPA Light Load Member

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    Drive at night. make life a hole lot easier. know where the scales are. and learn the routs to stay away from scales that are 24/7
     
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  11. rearview

    rearview Medium Load Member

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    not the width.

    they check brake adjustment and thickness of brake shoe. 98% of the time you do not have to worry about brake adjustment on the new self adjusting brakes. the other 2% is when the adjuster malfunctions. so if you do not check your brake adjustment you are playing the odds that 2% won't sneak up on you.

    they look at the air line hoses going into the can (check for cracks and leaks)

    They also look for brake drum cracks.

    Some will look at the frame for cracks and saddle wear while they are there
     
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