Never been through DOT inspection

Remember they go through a whole lot of formal and OJT training, are tested for qualifications, and watched like hawks for their probationary year. On the other hand, we drivers are lucky to get 15-20 minutes training on a "pre trip" inspection. Even then, what we have to do is nothing like what they do.

When the DOT officer puts on the grubbies, grabs his slider, and heads for your truck, you're in for a bit of a wait. That's why they all have much larger SUV units than their state police counterparts...they carry every darned thing they need to spend a day or two looking at your truck.

 

1. CVSA is NOT a Federal agency. This myth is so often quoted that it takes a life of it's own.

2. CVSA is a safety alliance that even has members in Canada.

3. DOT certification is also NOT federal or CVSA. This is another myth. Per FMCSA part 350 every state must designate a state agency to handle MCSAP. It is THIS agency that issues these certifications in most cases after said officer has been trained to standards set by CVSA.

4. All certified enforcement officers can and do all level's of inspections. It is true that a lot of state scale weigh masters are not DOT certified. However ALL can cite any driver for being overweight.

 

It's good to remember that what we commonly refer to as a "DOT officer" is normally a state-level law enforcement officer of some kind, whether highway patrol, state police, or whatever they are called. They are the ones in the vehicles whose lights get real bright in your mirrors from time to time.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA, part of the US Department of Transportation, also has sworn law enforcement officers, but you won't see them very much, if ever.

 

Dot required on duty time is-15 minute pre trip, 15 minutes at a shipper/consignee, 5 minutes fueling and 5 minute post trip. Not 100% if the post trip is a dot req but most companies req it. Everything else can be off duty. I use off duty pc to go to shippers/consignee I'm the morning and not start my day

 

And I'm sure you can back up all of that with applicable references to the law?

 

I'll second that motion.

 

I wouldn't do almost any of that...especially the PC to a shipper. #trouble

 

I've been on the road since may of 2012, I've never been pulled over or had an inspection of any type. 44 years old never had a ticket in a car or otherwise. I can only assume that when I finally get pulled over, I'll be hauled off to a secret prison for ticket evasion.

 

Call your safety Dept. How can the dot prove u had more on duty time than 15 minutes at a shipper? They weren't there. The only time they can prove u had more than 15 minutes on duty is if you get an inspection

I show up to the shipper, send arrival call, do on duty duty time/post trip then pc to a truck stop and pc back in the morning. Whose to say I didn't drop my trailer at a shipper and bobtail to a motel or a friend's house? Can the dot prove that?

U guys give the dot to much credit they aren't that good at looking over elogs. I got a level III once and had gone over my 14 the previous day. Dot guy didn't even notice as he scrolled through my log sheets (they just have times not a nice sheet that looks like a paper log). Elogs can be confusing especially older models lik mine.