Vehicle Inspection Reports

to the FMCA you posted. yep thats what it says. it also says you dont have to do a written report. but i have seen tickets issued for not doing one, listing as an incomplete log entry. and the DOT book verison says you must log a post trip not a pre trip.

 

Where does it indicate a written report isn't required? I believe some drivers are making this same inference only because it doesn't specify "written" where it indicates a pre-trip report is required.

The correct conclusion (as illustrated by your example) is that the agency issuing the ticket interprets the pre-trip as not only necessary but required. If it wasn't required a driver could contest such a ticket and have it dismissed, no?

Also, how does a driver know if no defects are present UNLESS he performs a pre-trip?

 

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[TD="width: 50%, align: left"]< 392.6[/TD]
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• Disclaimer
• Regulation
• Help

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Subpart A - General

[h=3]§392.7 Equipment, inspection and use.[/h]Question 1: Must a driver prepare a written report of a pretrip inspection performed under §392.7?
Guidance: No.

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Not sure where this link is supposed to go. It's not valid.

 

The driver can tell there are no defects partly because reading the previous post trip is required .

 

Only one REPORT required but two inspections must be done. You have to be satisfied that certain items are working on the pre-trip and the only way I know how is to inspect them. Once you do that then you chech the report for any damaged, broke, or not working items and make sure they are fixed and signed off.

 

Yep, 396.13 has been reiterated repeatedly but it doesn't discount or negate this part:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-resea...hm/vehicle.htm

• Check whole vehicle carefully, pre-trip and post-trip.
• Pre-trip and post-trip inspection reports are an important part of the job.
• Ensure annual vehicle inspection report or decal is in or on the vehicle.
• Don't drive a faulty vehicle

Reading the last driver's post-trip report is in no way meant to be a substitution for your own adequate pre-trip. The last driver's report isn't gonna guarantee anything except what the last driver -says- or protect you in any manner whatsoever. Signing off on a vehicle or taking a vehicle out based on what the last driver claims is something I will NEVER do. You're putting your life in the last driver's hands based on nothing but his word. Never mind the potential for abuse (no pre-trip and you can find yourself responsible for what the last driver damaged), what happens if he missed something that can result in dire consequences?

 

Note I said PARTLY because of reading the posttrip DVIR .

 

I do a pre-trip and post-trip each day on my truck. I only check off the dvir inspection list on the post-trip at the end of the day, should I be filling one out for the pre-trip also but not sign off on these till my day ends.

 

Why would a manager want all copies of the DVIR taken out of the book and turned in each day? I thought a copy had to remain in the book??