Checking oil and coolant

Suppose that your truck developed a slight leak the day before. Turbo oil line maybe. A leak that only occurs when the engine is running. the dripping oil is not getting caught on the frame, or the engine has so many sweats that you dont notice any new oil.
Yesterday you covered 600 miles and the leak consumed 20 quarts. Now you fire up the engine cold with 12 quarts or less left in it and it immediately gets pumped to the top end and hangs there as cold oil tends to do. Is it your truck or the companies truck? Your truck, then take the gamble, if it is the companies, then do what they are paying you to do.
Personally if I had to fire up cold, maybe to back up a little to get room to open the hood, then i would shut it down right away and do my under-hood pretrip properly.

 

You guys crack me up, the question is who the hell does the broker think he is?

I wouldn't have an issue with how the guy does the pre-trip, and I'm very anal about that issue.

 

I don't have a lot of room for extras in a daycab. When I was OTR, yes. I do keep a very small amount with me now, but nothing really close to what I might need.

 

All of that should be checked on a daily basis? Is this some kind of new law for 2017/2018?

 

Oh I didn't know you was local.

 

Dude a proper pre trip and post trip has ALWAYS been a daily requirement.

 

That ain't no lie!

 

Dude, that was my attempt at making a joke. I see a lot of equipment puttering around that looks as if it’s never had a pre-trip or post-trip.

Yes, I pre-trip and post-trip every day. I was being a little dramatic when I said that we don’t open our hoods.

 

They can't figure out how the bungee cords work that are keeping his hood shut.

 

No it is not.

Now you might have been taught to check the oil; that is good. You might have been required to check the oil in your states pre-trip test; that is helpful. You might always check the oil; that is great. But you are not required by the DOT to check the oil:


§ 392.7 Equipment, 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.
Wheels and rims.
Emergency equipment.

Above is the clause referred to when cited for not doing a pre-trip. You will notice checking the oil is not mentioned. You will also notice the key phrase "No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied." How the driver is satisfied is not defined. It could be his personal inspection, the prior drivers inspection, or the mechanics inspection.

I know this must be news to you, but that is the fact. Oil is not mentioned at all. Nor is any responsibility given to a particular person for the inspection.

We covered that; you can get fired for anything. The company is only justified in the firing if they have outlined the task for the employee and have a record of training or disciplinary action.

Hopefully we covered this by now. You can fire just about anyone for anything. Except for a few instances of protected discrimination, an employer will not land in court. However, the employee will be due unemployment, often paid by the employer, if the employer cannot prove deficiency of duty and a record of negligence.