Passed a Level one, random roadside inspection, but still assessed CSA points?

I caint believe the level of BS we have to put up with these days.
Derogatory points for such nitpicky things

 

If it’s a required lamp it’s a whole 2 points on the carrier’s CSA. So 6 points total.

 

I know everybody hates CSA points and the whole CSA system, but since they started assigning points to violations that followed carriers and drivers around, I have seen a BIG change out here on the road.
30 years ago violations like broken wheels, broken brake drums, broken leaf springs, broken frames, etc - BIG violations - were much more commonplace than they are today. Carriers are paying a lot more attention to vehicle maintenance and inspections. They have to.
I know (as a former driver myself) points suck - but the quality of the equipment on the road today has improved since CSA was implemented.

 

E logs.

Log violations were their bread and butter.

His job or yours, guess who's going to do what is necessary to justify their existence?

 

Any light REQUIRED by 393.11 that is inoperative or missing is a violation.
Other lights - like "chicken lights" - that are not required, are not a violation if they are inoperative.

 

You had a light out there is nothing to dispute.

 

Never had any chicken lights on my company trucks, but some old hands told me that if I ever bought my own truck and put chicken lights on it, to run 'em on a separate circuit so I could switch 'em off before entering the coops. Sounded like good advice to me...

 

If the light out was a non-required light (heck if I know!) then it could be out and no points should be assigned, even though noted on the inspection report. It would be like saying the "Kenworth" decal is missing. True, but not illegal.

If it was not a required light, and it DOES show up as CSA points, seems to me a DATAQ challenge would be appropriate, and the officer would likely agree with the driver. But, it's the government and logic may not apply.

 

It used to be like that but somewhere along the way it changed to where you could only get a violation if a required light isn’t working.

 

I consider “passed” as not being put out-of-service. Kind of like back in school, you could make down to a 70 and still “pass”.

 

We always put extra brake lights and turn signals on new equipment. Like the old boss said "It won't keep people from hitting you but when they do you can point out all the extra lights that should have caught their attention".