Logging Pre/Post Trip Insp.

You left out the most important part:

Also of note is (a)(5):

 

396.11 is a paper work requirement. It says nothing about requiring a driver to actually do an inspection. Heck it even states "issues reported to the driver" as a possibility.

Here is the quote from the regs you left out. See the highlighted section. And just to make sure as this is yet another thread. No one is saying it's a good idea to not inspect. It's just the only regulation sates that the driver must be satisfied. Nothing about the driver inspecting. He could hire someone to inspect. Heck you are a tow away, how often are you hauling new equipment? New trucks should not need an inspection (I still would, I deliver to GM and have a low trust threshold, but it could be argued a brand new truck must have everything required working.)

(2) Report content. (i) The report must identify the vehicle and list any defect or deficiency discovered by or reported to the driver which would affect the safety of operation of the vehicle or result in its mechanical breakdown.

 

Right, but only if the defect is something that couldn't be corrected by the driver before the end of their shift.

Personally, I inspect my vehicle every time I leave it and return to it. I correct any defects that I find before the end of the shift. Therefore, I have no need to complete and file a DVIR.

Since I'm a carrier that operates one CMV, I'm also exempt from the DVIR requirement.

 

Thanks for playing, but that regulation says nothing about actualy doing an inspection. It specifically does not state that a post trip is required. A driver could inspect the vehicle at any time during the day and satisfy the implication you suggest.

 

The non hazmat legal requirement is a driver must be satisfied the truck is in safe operational order prior to beginning his run, and that he does a post trip at the end of the run. No time requirement is listed.

Every carrier interprets this rule different, if you are a company driver the best thing you can do is call your safety department and ask them what they want to see. There simply isn't a "Best practices" that the industry follows when it comes to this.

 

How can you report on something you have not done?

 

The only ### that sits in the saddle is mine, therefore if i gave it a good thorough inspection the night before, a simple eyeballing as i walk around it in the morning is sufficient.

Doing a thorough post trip gives me time to fix any defects found with out screwing up the next day schedule. Waiting till 6 am when i need to be somewhere at 7 am means when something as simple as a bad marker light will screw my whole day up resulting in a missed load, which will snow ball into an entire week screwed up.

 

I get that you are not understanding what I am saying. That's fine. How would you report on something you did not actually perform? It asks for a person to report. Please explain to me how that works.

 

“Drivers will still be required to perform pre-trip evaluations of equipment condition, and complete DVIRs if any defects or deficiencies are discovered or reported during the day’s operations.“

 

Good plan.