If you go to DOT for an inspection.....

Absolutely I do, why?

 

Ehhh, although I have had my run-ins with DOT over the years, (mostly piddly stuff) I have found SM to answer questions thrown at him fairly and up front. Yes I do try and give him crap now and again, but all in all I appreciate his contribution to this forum.

Now, with that said, do I think that he does/or can ALWAYS take the drivers perspective on questions asked? No I don't think he can, in all honesty I think he would have to walk in "our shoes" in order to do that.

Just as I am sure we don't see everything from his viewpoint for the same reason.

 

I was a driver for years before I came over from the dark side. I have been there more than you know.

If the police are doing things wrong, then someone has to police the police!

I can tell you that if I were making up inspections, making up violations or phonying up documents, it would not go well with me in my agency. I would be gone fast.

I can tell you that CVSA and FMCSA take these things very seriously, and if they got a letter letting them know this stuff was going on with a particular inspector, they would expect that agency to investigate and take appropriate action.

There are good eggs and bad apples in every industry. If nothing is ever done or said about the bad ones, they just get worse. There are very successful ways of addressing these issues. Arguing roadside with the bear with the mirrored sunglasses who thinks he owns that highway is not the best solution. A polite letter to the top of his agency simply asking if this behavior is normal usually will shake the tree all the way down the chain of command.

 

Obviously you have never done a highway patrol escorted load in California.
You MUST have a valid (less than 90 days old) CVSA sticker on the truck. I have "volunteered" for a level one about 100 times in 10 different trucks over a 20 year period.

Anyone can ask for a level one anywhere anytime... If they dont have the manpower they may tell you to come back another day.

An answer to the original question is YES they absolutely can and will slap a red tag on a truck that needs to be shutdown. The better question would be, why would you volunteer for a level one with a truck that will not pass?

My Safer Stat showed about 50 inspections and 0 shut downs for the last two years i was in business because i would never be stupid enough to drive into an inspection facility in a truck that hadnt just spent a few hours in my shop.

 

No, if you have any issues that would warrant an OOS, then you are shut down right there. The fact that you went in voluntarily does nothing to change that fact.

 

Gross don't mix your fruits and eggs.

 

Bad information? Like your 50 years experience you have in your profile?

Evidently you don't understand what I'm saying. A driver can't just go up to any scale house and request an inspection and the DOT has to comply. There are too many crybabies in the industry that DOT officers don't have time to get in the middle of a driver mad at his dispatcher. This is the federal gov't and there are proper channels to report bad equipment.