Just some of the stupid things I see

Yes, but most we find out after the inspection and the "real" carrier says that these folks are not operating for us, and we have no idea who this is. However I have determined a few are BS before we leave our roadside meeting. The computer systems today with the various databases help. I usually check the US DOT #, the driver's name/DOB/license number, truck and trailer tag numbers for previous inspections. One of the systems give a year's worth of inspection history, which can be very useful. Another system, I check the driver's name or license number and I get 3 years of inspection history/violations/ accident history for that particular driver. I had a fatal collision a few years back and it involved a truck that was bearing someone else's DOT and MC number. Turned out the truck was uninsured and caused the wreck in which a man died. This was a total cluster, but a owner operator had taken a carrier that had 30 or so trucks and displayed their carrier name and US DOT/MC number's. The driver filled his log book out using that carrier's address and name. This was just one of the things that came out in the investigation.

 

Had one las night that wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. Fella I stop for speeding, 20 over hauling produce. Hands me a temporary IRP, his license, log book etc. I do the inspection, find 6 bad tires three with large amounts of steel belts exposed. So there was 4 tires that had to be replaced for Out of Service criteria. The trailer had 2 inoperative brakes and one ruptured diaprahm. Then I get to the "temporary" IRP issue. Looking at this, I thought a 8 year old typed it up. Misspelled words like "Apportionment" "Temporary", "State" and a few less challenging words. I run the VIN number through multiple State's and finally get a response back. The driver, was also the owner and had it registered in one State, but that ran out in March. So after questioning this intelligent form of human life, it comes out that he is bankrupt, has no money for the tags or insurance. His IFTA account was revoked for non payment and his DOT number was out of service. Just to let you know what you are sharing the road with. I'm just glad I stopped him and didn't have to handle a collision with the piece.