Inspections - Which state ?

Backroads of Montana typically does the trick.

 

Just go in and ask them to do one

A company awhile back had a contest and clean inspections gave extra points
Some guy went in every coop and asked for one

 

Most don't do on demand anymore.

They leave it up to highway patrol.

 

Why?

 

I'm not the OP, but am a two truck carrier. We run reefers and do a lot of night driving. For the past 5 or so years, most coops are only open business hours due to alleged staffing and budget problems. We also have prepass and a clean safety, and get the green light99% of the time even when running fully loaded. We run busy interstate routes, so not avoiding scales at all. Even if I pull in with a prepass green, the scalemaster won't even look up and I get the bypass lane. 10 years ago I'd sign 4-6 inspections as the carrier and mail them in. Lately I'm lucky to see one a year. I can tell you first hand about three consequences to the carrier that happen the fleet goes 3+ years without any inspections:

1. You no longer have a score on CSA, so being equitable and such, the government automatically assumes you're being shady and drops your ISS score in an attempt to make you an inspection target so they can catch up. The ISS score is a number between 100 (extra good) to 0 (blood on the highway bad). Below 95 means prepass will give you the red light all the time. Lower score means you also move higher priority for a random even if you're good on ground pressure. The way it's supposed to work, 100's get an automatic bypass even if there's parts falling off as they go by. A low score they should be snapping on the rubber gloves while you're still approaching on the off ramp. After an extended inspection dry spell, they set my ISS at 11 for about a year and a half until one driver finally got a level 3 (passed), then it went right back up to 100. Even with a low ISS forcing prepass red light, I would always get the bypass lane.
2. A few brokers and shippers won't load a carrier with no recent inspections. Not a crisis by any stretch, but it's frustrating when you spend the time and money to run safe, then get red flagged because of something the DOT didn't do. About half the time, I could get around it by proving annual (non-DOT) inspections or the like. But what a waste of time.
3. Your insurance will question and scrutinize at renewal time. Especially if you want to change insurers. They'll see it like the brokers as a risk, but more willing to work around it because they're thirsty for your cash.

 

Thanks for that.


ISS score.
Is that the safety score?

I was recently pulled in for an inspection.
I was told it was because Swift had a safety score of 95.
He said that 0 was best, with 100 being the worst, so he pulled me in.
It was just a level 3, so just the basics of logs and permit book and such.
Everything was fine on my end.
And then he gave me a $25 gift card for Walmart.

 

billings mt scales. haugan mt scales. post falls idaho scales. spokane wa scales. will all give you an inspection on demand. just be careful for what you wish for.