how many times can you be given a random inspection in a week

Geez what a jerk she was!!! What was their "red flag"?

 

i have never been inspected. Once the guy at the scale was gonna inspect me but a much older lookign truck pulled in behind me and he said go ahead.

Key to not getting inspected is have a cleans safety record..(your and your companies). Also, get your truck washed and fix any rust. A rusty/dirty body points to an under maintained truck, even if all the parts under the hood are spectacular, it will cause them to check. Also get rid of stuff on your dash.

Oh yea, and get prepass, because if you don't stop there is less chance to get inspected.

 

Where in Melrose Park? 25th Ave? The Bellwood local pulled me over once (he thought that I was loaded) and acted surprised when I told him that I was empty (I pull a conastoga). He checked my cab card and let me go.

 

in the last 10 years I have only been dot'd about 3-4 times but then I have made it a habit running around scales and avoiding dot hot spots and during the blitz I don't truck. I also keep my rig washed and whenever something goes wrong I replace it right away. I also run a lot at night. my rig is legal and I have nothing to worry about these days but I went for 7 years running double logs hauling 90k plus with no permits and running in states that my carrier I worked for was not apportioned for and had no permit or registration for that state. nowadays I run my own rig and I stay 100% legal but old habits die hard

 

We haul tank and we only have 56 trucks but we average about 8-10 a week and I can't remember the last time we failed one but it was a long time ago.

I have friend who is FHP assigned to Motor Carrier Safety and he says if he wants an easy day he inspects tankers and LTL carriers. If he wants to make page as he calls it he pulls over container haulers and local carriers. He has been doing it for 20 years and he says it is getting harder and harder to find violations on any truck, which I would say is a good sign in the industry.

The most I personally ever got was 12 in a summer and 2 of them were in Canada. If you think DOT inspections in the U.S. is tough you should get one done in Canada, they are way tougher. One company I worked for had one of they trucks put out of service for a month for the brakes being out of adjustment.

 

This week at the Eagleville, MO onI35 was pulled around back, I got out as he walked up and he grabbed a chain that was a little loose. I snugged it up, he said " have a nice day" I said " thank you" and I was gone.

 

Have gone two years without one, I think that was my record. Had B maintenance done two days later NM level 3 (passed of course) Next day headlight goes out, fix, continue into CA next day Level 1. As I pull into shed I am grinning and ask if NM counts as a get out of Jail free card, he grins and says but you did not get a sticker for your Level 3 so complete level 1.
I have had 3 Level ones in CA in 4 years. Spotless truck 2 years old, prepass, no trash on dash, only current IFTA sticker on side (why advertise how old your truck is by showing your IFTA collection.)

Last time I asked he said regardless of Prepass or not they pull 5% of all trucks, not sure how that is figured exactly, but based on the CVSA stickers it seems like over half the West coast trucks have them, farther east you go less and less trucks have them. Last time when I got my lic. and paperwork back they had a driver in the building DUI, he told me they get about 6 a month

 

There is a female DOT officer around Mobile, that the locals have nick named the "Dragon Lady" I think you just meet her.