Darned if you do darned if you don't? Pre-trip/Post-trip?

Back when paper logs were a thing, I recall being told by my employer to just "flag" post-trip inspections off duty. In other words, don't log them on duty, just write "post-trip inspection" in the remarks, assuming you logged your pre-trip on duty at the beginning of your shift.

Which of the following is more likely to get you in trouble at a weigh station?

A. Doing the above.
B. Not saying anything at all in your logs about post-trip inspections.

 

Not sure about on duty time requirements but you must show a inspection signed by the driver each day.
I believe a post trip insp notation on paper would suffice.

 

When we were on paper, anything less than 7.5 minutes could be just flagged. Now that we are on Elogs that keep track down to the second, I am pretty sure we couldn't get away with just flagging a pre or post trip inspection. Even if they don't require a specific amount of time, I am pretty sure a DOT officer would have an issue with not showing any time. My previous employers said, (on paper logs) show time on the post trip since back then you had to fill out a VIR daily...plus that left you a little more time to drive right up to your 70, then the posttrip time could be done legally after you hit your 70.

 

Best way to do it imo and how i do it is as follows. Fuel before bed and do your oil and under the hood checks then. Wake up. Put on pants and boots for the day. Turn on coffee machine. Put breakfast in microwave or grab your truckstop meal. Go inside for a leak or whatever. Come back out. Go on duty. Get out and do your walk around inspection. Stick tires and check lights look for leaking fluid ect the usual pretrip stiff. Get back in. Empty coffee into your therm, season to taste. Eat breakfast. Roll.

Usually takes me about 15-20 mins start to finish including putting my coffee in a therm. Truck gets a good inspection i have at least 15-20 mins on the clock. Then when you stop for your 30 or a leak someplace. just crack your hood fast and do a quick visual for obvious issues and a walk around any time your out.

 

Believe it or not, there is no requirement to do an inspection in the fmcsa. As such there is no notation required in the logs.
What is required is the driver must be satisfied a whole list of things is in working order. That usually means an inspection yes, but there are other ways like hiring someone to do the inspection.

As for the post trip, again not required. An inspection report must be filled out if something is found, but that's a paperwork requirement, not an actual inspection requirement. And it's only if something is found wrong, not everyday.

 

The removal of having to fill out a vir form for nothing was one of the few positives the feds changed in recent years.

 

Pants and boots? Hmmmm....

 

Is 396.11 no longer a requirement?

 

/shrug i work as a rock bucket and get to climb over stuff like broken glass to put in bows on a regular basis. Some things you dont want to join you in the bed.

 

It applies, but read what it says.
396.11(a)(2)(i)
Drivers are not required to prepare a report if no defect or deficiency is discovered by or reported to the driver.