Getting DOT Compliant

I hoping you guys can help me as I am extremely ignorant on this subject and need some guidance. I recently was put in charge of vehicle maintenance for our fleet and we received some violations after being stopped for an inspection. I am trying to read up on the regulations so I can make sure our vehicles are compliant but its a little confusing.

If we are utilizing and actioning DVIRs, will that cover most of the things we would get violations for? And do these regulations apply to all commercial vehicles regardless of size? We have vehicles as small as the Nissan NV200 and as large as the Freightliner M2. Any information, advice or references you can send me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Edit: We are a bank service and construction company, so our vehicles aren't making long trips if that helps or makes a difference.

 

You know, if you don't know the laws that govern your business, you might want to consult a consultant about how to get compliant.

You question is simply way too broad to answer with out knowing a lot more about your company.

You can get started yourself at eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations

 

That's what Ive been trying to read through but like I said, for someone brand new to all of this, its confusing. Im not sure how much of it applies to what vehicles because of the way things are written. I wasn't aware that consultants for DOT compliancey were a thing and I will definitely be looking into that. Thanks!

 

Find a friendly local DOT officer. I regularly offer to come discuss regulations with companies, walk them through an inspection process, and even set up regular terminal inspections. Some of these companies have used it to lower their insurance rates.

 

Waiting for someone to hand you an issue through DVIR is begging for a failed inspection and CSA points.

Getting compliant is easy. Staying compliant at all times, may be hard. Reason being, you don’t know how. (That’s why your here) And I’m willing to bet, neither do your drivers.

I don’t know where you’re from. But many departments, county and city have a certified inspector. You might check out your local PD or Sheriff Dept. and ask if any are certified and are willing to give you an assist. They have a quota they have to meet to remain certified. It don’t cost a thing to ask. And probably won’t cost anything for the assistance. Hell, you just might make their day.

 

If a vehicle has something broken and a driver writes it up on a pretrip inspection report. The shop has to fix same immediately before that truck GOES OUT onto the road. Usually driver has just been given a load assignement and the truck is broken.

It's going out anyway and thus gets caught at inspection and cited violated OOS etc. the driver in your company does not think they have the time to sit in the shop unpaid while the load is late to impossible waiting for the truck to be fixed immediately.

 

Go to JJ Keller and engage their consultation services.

YOU GUYS CAN AFFORD TO DO THIS RIGHT AND THAT IS THE FIRST RIGHT STEP IN DOING IT RIGHT.

 

Another vote for JJ Keller. Google them, they have all the information you'll need and it's usually presented in a fashion that's easy for first-timers to understand.

 

I went the JJ Keller route about a decade ago, and when you sum it up, got nothing out of it. The person tasked with compliance was new to the industry and was simply overwhelmed. Nothing actually got accomplished. However, much paperwork was generated.

Before you do ANYTHING, someone in the organization needs to have a rudimentary understanding of what is required and what the different options are for reaching your compliance goals.

If you have a local inspector, I would go that route. You can learn more in a 2 hr meeting than a week digging through JJ Keller binders.

 

well said...something new and edgy, wait and J J Keller will chop down another forest and offer to sell it to you.

On the other hand, a lot of good stuff is copied from J J every day!