72 Hour DOT this week...... HOW BAD IS IT???

I'm not sure the newbies will understand the white sheet reference. On the other side a lot of the posts on this thread should have more than a few hiding under their bunks until Friday.

 

"Hey, Bob, did you bring that deck of cards with you? Or your Monopoly game?

 

"Every year they put fewer trucks out of service"

Makes one think that the whole point of this was NOT revenue, but compliant trucks running down the road... with fewer out of service tickets, it shows that safety is the priority, not the conspiracy theory fleecing of our pockets...

 

My experience actually driving and dealing with dispatch and DOT has been completely different than what I was told in school and training it would be. I was told companies would fire you at the drop of a hat. At my second job I said something about that to the dispatcher and he just shook his head, "Why would I want to fire drivers? I have loads that need to be delivered and to do that I need drivers, so why do I want trucks without drivers?"

As for DOT, they are salaried state workers, I'm not saying they are lazy it's just why do they want to make extra work for themselves? If they waste their time on trucks that look like they are being cared for, then they aren't available for the trucks held together with bailing wire. That isn't to say there aren't those who think their mission in life is to make life as hard as possible on drivers, but CVSA is trying to get rid of those people. They are trying to standardize things. The problem is when you run into an inspector that believes in the letter of the law as opposed to those who follow the spirit of the law.

All that said I would tell any newbie, have your paperwork in order, make sure all 18 tires look good and all your lights work. The paperwork they want is the truck and trailer registration, the truck insurance card, your license, your medical card, an up to date log book and your bills of lading. Make sure you have the last seven days of logs available. Don't look like a slob and clean your truck so that it doesn't look like a pig sty. When he approaches be pleasant, if you're nervous admit it. They aren't out to get you they just want to make sure you and your truck aren't a danger to yourself or others. Carry replacement lights if possible and you will be fine. I've been through three inspections this year alone. Do a good pre-trip every morning and a couple of times throughout the day. If you can fix an issue, do it. If you can't fix the problem call it in to your company and write it up on your DVR. That isn't a red flag to an officer, it's the opposite. If you find issues and write them up it tells the officer you've done your job of inspecting your truck and he doesn't have to do it for you.

 

azzhats you know? cops or drivers?

 

Cops actually drive?

Who'd a thunk?

I always see em parked....aiming something out the window....then takin a bit from the donut!

 

Why not just avoid the scales?
Those DOT bears will be too busy with all the trucks currently going through the scales they won't notice a truck or five pulling off at the exit before the scale and running around it.