Post Trip Inspections

Could you consider the mechanic's inspection to be a post-trip?

 

@speedyk I think you are not understanding the topic. The point is the driver is the one whom has their neck out. If a driver trusts a machanic's inspection then yes it will suffice. Me? I would never place any class vehicle on the road CMV or not until I at least walked around it.

 

Well... considering the purpose of a "driver performed" post trip... if it WERE a requirement in some form or another.. it's purpose would be to alert the mechanics about said defects before the next duty cycle.

I guess technically it could if some type of company paperwork is required at trip end by someone.
A mechanic doing a walk-around is likely better than most of what is passes for drivers nowadays anyhow when it comes to knowing how equipment should function.

 

3rd party auditors are a lot like CPAs and tax preparers.
They all know different sets of rules that they interpret to be correct and they enforce them upon you as if they are the God of the universe.
If you get a different auditor, they'll likely have another view on the issue.

Two tax preparers rarely get the same answer on a finished return.

 

I was thinking about this topic some last night and I was thinking in regard to §396.13 (a) I would hate to be sitting in a witness chair in a court room answering a question put by an attorney after my truck or a part of it caused a death. How long do you think an excuse of well the feds don't actually require me to physically inspect my rig before operation will last in this setting. A smart driver does what is right simply because it is the right thing to do, not because the FMCSA says they have too. Another point. The states using part 396 are collecting large fines and placing drivers OOS all the time. The FMCSA is collecting all these inspection reports. How long do you think it will take for the FMCSA to announce a proposed rule change to part 396 if this really becomes a large problem? Word to the wise, inspect your dang truck!

 

The OP is strictly talking about POST TRIP inspections.
I'm not trying to split hairs here, but POST is what is not required, and is what was being conversed.

You keep mentioning "inspecting my rig BEFORE a trip".
That would be a PRE TRIP and they are federally mandated and are not even in doubt.

The OP was asking about POST TRIPS.

 

Noted and I agree. However in my view these inspections are tied together. Let me explain my reasoning. If a driver says screw it im not going to inspect my truck after a run im just going to pencil whip the paperwork because I am tired and need to find my easy chair and a beer. What happens is sometimes the next driver looks at that paperwork and says well looks good to me. I am speaking to both pre and post trips. At a minimum at least walk around after you park and check for leaks and flat tires. It is just in my opinion a smart thing to do. While the post trip is not legally required I think it is a smart driver that does at least a short post trip.