Avoiding DOT inspections

The guy I was running with yesterday got pulled over by ky dot just north of the pilot there south of bowling green. He had the driver call my phone and have me pull off at the pilot. As im backing in, in drives my co-worker and the officer. All went well, he wanted to see our loads since they were oversize and he didn't know what they were. 57 minutes later after an extremely thorough level 1, he finishes up and we stand around shooting the ####. He informed us that in the past 6 months ky has had an increase of drivers hauling oversize and not keeping their equipment in good shape. Said that ky dot is looking really hard at open deck loads, specifically oversize.

Other than that, he was really cool about it. No violations for my coworker.

 

OP and any 5yr guys,

You assume we as drivers intentionally avoid the DOT. Being in the business longer than 5 no make that 10 no make that 20+ years. Its all in how your equipment is as well as your time management.
You can have a brand new semi, the DOT will find an issue. its a large book of regulations.
Some states are money magnet, some are not.
We drive what loads we want, where we want to drive. If your gonna get stopped you will get stopped.

Only suggestion i can give you is,. improve your ride and who you work for.
If DOT bother you something is up.

 

pre-pass yes even if you have to pay for it yourself. run legal. keep your truck inspected (every 4 months) and for the love of money wash your #### truck.

 

I run all over Michigan, and occasionally into Ohio and Indiana. I keep my equipment clean, do not fear the scale house, have my truck DOT'd every quarter by a real mechanic and don't worry about it.

I did have a level 1 three maybe four years ago over on I-94, Kalamazoo area by a Sheriff officer. He was cool as heck, real nice guy, complimented me on the undercarriage of the truck and condition, best he has seen in a long time he says. We stood around BS'ing for a bit and went on our way. Got my window sticker and the 100% pass attaboy sheet. Keep yourself squared away, you should not have any issues. Just be polite if you do get pulled over. Best advice I can give.

 

Here is what I have learned over the years

DOT is hot in the morning hours. A lot of the time inspections are less likely after 3 p.m.
DOT does not like to do inspections, in the rain, busy roads, cold weather, snow, or close to holidays or traffic jams or roads where there is no place to pull over an 18 wheeler.

They do like hanging out at, rest area's, truck stops, industrial parks, weight stations, exit ramps and on ramps.

A little green book is nice to have because a lot of the times they do not fully understand the trucking business.

Don't be afraid to go around the scales. I've been doing this for years and I have a totally clean record. If you get pulled over and asked why say you was looking for a restroom and some coffee.

DOT inspections will make your insurance rates go up at renewal if anything is noted on the FMCSA website.

 

Four years I was driving between Texas and Arkansas mostly, never once got inspected.

Keep your dashboard clean of anything. Dot seems to be attracted to trucks driving through the scales with a lot of papers, food, and trash all over the dashboard.

I remember waking up in the morning at a rest stop in Wichita Falls and a driver pulls into the spot right next to me with a tx dot officer right beside him and starts doing an inspection. Driver told me that the officer saw him looking at his phone while driving so that is why he got stopped.

I said thanks for bringing him right next to me and I hauled out of there before even using the bathroom.

 

It sounds more like a trucker tale than real life. Don't work at a place where you have to duck the DOT.

 

When my trainee got a Level 3 the other day here in AL, the officer told us that we would be surprised the number of drivers on the road with No CDL, medical card, and operating OOS equipment. That s why there s more troopers doing inspections

 

It depends where ya run. As for OTR there are ways. And in many situations there are ways.

@A Bug and @6wheeler dropped some great points.


However in my situation, running Vegas to Rancho everyday. You just gotta stay clean and check your equipment close. If I go around I probably won't reload. Which is why I've only went around once in the last 6 months. Go over that Mountain Pass (that'd be Nipton for those less aquainted with the area) superscale on I15 everyday, averaging 78-79k. I have had 3 level 1 inspections come up clean at that scale.

If you go through that scale you best be in order, they got more truck parking than most pilots, and they do occasionally use it.

As for anyone who uses NV164, it's a rough ride if ya do.

Even had a lengthy but civil discussion on how much an 8'-6" spread can carry in CA. The officer was unaware of the round to the nearest foot provision. Luckily my Fleet/Driver manager dug up the code#.

 

GA. only lets you carry 36,000 on 8ft spread, In MO. you can drive down state rt. 2000 over axle but under gross., but if on interstate they can and will make you unload whats over at the scale before you can move in MO. I had a dis. tell me to p/u 8 bundles of green painted fence posts that a driver had tossed off side of flatbed trailer in grass on W side of scale parking lot to get under axle, I asked if the driver was helping me lift them up on my trailer and dis, said he was gone, I told dis. that by now so were the fence posts too by now?