Driver has a load shift, seems to think the green book rules are just suggestions.

Securement is key.

We used to check tires for overhot every so many hours or miles several times a driving time back when.

Checking the load would go right along with it. Taint a problem. If you catch it early before that coil thinks about escaping.

 

If they guy couldn't tell there were loose chains from looking in the mirror, well before a load check, he has no business running open deck.

How can you not know a chain is loose on a load like that?

 

Total fail well before we need to worry about the green book.

 

I see guys with loose chains all the time. Apparently you can't see them in the mirror.

 

I haul a lot of preloaded steel on some very questionable trailers with very questionable chains and binders. The chains and binders are cap welded to the trailers through the stake pockets, so you have to add your own chains to the stand offs. I constantly look in my mirrors for "chain wobble" and as soon as I see something I don't like I'm on the side of the road checking every chain. If I show up late with those loads to the jobsites I simply explain to the crane crews the situation and ask them if they'd be alright with me driving a truck and hauling that load next to their wife and kids. Load securement to me is very important.

 

That would require looking in the mirrors.

 

I've never been hassled for logging load checks. Nor have I been advised to.

Why or who has suggested this be done?

 

True. there is no requirement to describe any activity, although most carriers require it. It is enough that you note city and state where you flag a change of duty status.

 

The law... Any change of duty status has to be logged. A 5 minute load check is less then 15 (if on paper) so just flag it, write the location and how long.
And legally you are not "at the controls of a cmv" so you are not driving.

All that being said, you would have to piss off a dot officer to get in any real trouble for not doing it I think.