Post Trip Inspections

I believe Moose was referring to post-trips in general; so no he is mistaken.

You are correct in this particular case. Thank you.

However, I was referring to the concept that the "post-trip" was not required and the "pre-trip" was. A common misconception that is perpetrated on drivers.

 

ME TOO. I'm 100% with you on this one.

I'm out.

Kick dead horses, all you do is break your feet.
As a last gasp.. in post #30, I read it very carefully and the ONLY wording I saw requiring a Post WAS on a driveaway operation... and that was worded specifically.
I could understand that to some point.. but the trip is OVER for that operation if it's at destination.
If it's just days end, then it needs a good look just like they ALL do whether or not it's required.

I think what we have here is a bunch of REALLY GOOD DRIVERS splitting hairs over words when we actually do what's right to begin with.

It's the ones with the wobbly tires and leaking oil pans, with no lights crowd that we need to focus on.

I bow to you professionals and wish you all good day.

 

392.7 makes it very clear that a pre-trip is required by law.

eCFR — Code of Federal Regulations

Question 25 clearly states a post-trip is not required.

Regulations Section

 

@DSK333 ... thanks for bringing this issue to a cricket chirping close!

 

If you go back to that rule you will find no text with the words shall physically inspect. What you will find is typical bureaucratic gobbledygook. Go read it again. Yes the case can be made that was the intent, but for some reason the words shall inspect was not added. Yes it is splitting hairs.

 

@Moose1958
10 bonus points for using and spelling gobbledygook!!

 

No clearly you did not read your own reference:

"§392.7 Equipment, inspection and use.
(a) No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied......"

Nor did you read my prior post where I pointed that out. Nor is their any guidance on that section stating a pre-trip inspection is required.

"Question 25: Section 396.11 requires the driver, at the completion of each day’s work, to prepare a written report on each vehicle operated that day. Does this section require a "post trip inspection" of the kind described in §396.15?

Guidance: No. However, the written report must include all defects in the parts and accessories listed in §396.11(a) that were discovered by or reported to the driver during that day."

396.11 is clause governing the post trip inspection and report for normal trucking operations. Read the title:

"Section § 396.11: Driver vehicle inspection report(s)...."

How do you do an inspection report without an inspection? Clearly an inspection is required. What is no longer required is the need to submit the report if no defects are found.

396.15 is the clause governing only driveaway-towaway operations only. So no a regular trucking operation does not have to inspect the tow-bar and the saddle mounts like described int 396.15. It would make no sense to inspect a tow-bar or saddle mount you don't have. OK?

Your mis-reading is just injecting wrong information into the situation.

 

Church busses and the like, driveway-towaway operations, and owner-operations are exempt from the need to submit to post-trip reports regardless of the vehicle condition.

That is might be adequate. However, how do you document the inspections by the mechanics?

Truck drivers seldom get sighted on the road for lack of post-trip. However, when a DOT officer see or reads a post-trip report, and the do look for them, they often relieve any intention the officer might have to inspect a vehicle. Exactly that has happened to me several times. "If your looking at the vehicle their is no need for us to look at it." I have heard exactly that several times in several different states.

Now come DOT audit time, several DOT inspectors will like to go over post-trip inspection reports you have on hand. This was no problem before since each day each driver had an inspection report. Today it will look mighty suspicious if after 3 months of operation no instances of driver dissatisfaction was reported with any truck.

Log-wise no time requirement for post-trip has ever been given. "every driver shall prepare a report in writing at the completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated" only implies completion, or a signature by the end of day, therefore the log could be just flagged even though that is not required.