5 Finest Practices for Executing Pre- and Publish-Journey Inspections

This publish is a part of a sequence sponsored by IAT Insurance coverage Group.

When industrial drivers are pulled over for DOT roadside inspections, an under-inflated tire, a malfunctioning brake mild or every other variety of tools failures can lead to assessed violations, fines and potential out-of-service-related downtime. Every certainly one of these can negatively impression a motor service’s DOT compliance report.

It’s estimated that out-of-service automobiles can value fleets a median of $850 to $1,000 per day. As well as, the failure to ship items on time can lead to buyer dissatisfaction and the attainable lack of income out of your buyer taking their enterprise elsewhere.

In a extra extreme state of affairs, a truck driver is concerned in an accident when the brakes malfunction. When the plaintiff’s lawyer finds out the driving force did not carry out a federally required pre-trip inspection that day, the repercussions develop.

The Federal Service Security Administration (FMCSA) regulates pre- and post-trip inspections to be carried out by truck drivers on every journey.[1]^,[2] When industrial driver’s license (CDL) operators observe documented insurance policies and procedures in finishing these tools inspections, resembling utilizing the U.S. DOT’s pre- and post-trip checklist,[3] these points can doubtlessly be averted. Sadly, many drivers fail accomplish that.

Out of 59,000 roadside inspections carried out throughout a three-day street security marketing campaign final 12 months, 14,428 violations have been issued for brake techniques, tires, faulty service brakes, lights and cargo securement.[4]

Checking the bins to scale back violations

To considerably scale back the percentages of violations and to make sure tools is secure to function, these finest practices may help fleets educate and encourage their drivers to carry out their required security checks day by day.

1. Carry out a twice-daily walk-around. When drivers make a behavior of strolling round their automobile twice a day, inspecting elements resembling tires, lights, brakes and the fifth wheel, any doubtlessly wanted repairs might be famous and addressed. That is additionally the proper alternative to fill out the Driver Automobile Inspection Report (DVIR).3

Think about using a pre-trip inspection app to make the inspections simpler for drivers. In lieu of a paper kind, utilizing an digital eDVIR may help streamline the method, encourage participation and scale back inspection time.

2. Embody pre- and post- journey inspection in your annual coaching and onboarding. Educate and/or assessment the step-by-step course of to finishing a correct tools inspection to your drivers and emphasize its significance. As well as, instruct them on tips on how to correctly doc that they’ve accomplished the inspection.

Emphasize the timeframe wanted to carry out a pre- or post-trip inspection. Guarantee drivers that their day by day pre-trip inspection ought to take solely 10 minutes or quarter-hour on the most.

3. Report your findings. When points are found throughout the tools inspection course of, maintain the problem straight away. Proprietor-operators ought to organize to right away repair their truck or trailer, and fleet drivers must be educated to tell managers instantly.

Doc and preserve recordsdata on all tools that exhibits when inspections, service and repairs have been accomplished. Within the occasion of an accident, it’s key to make sure these recordsdata can be found.

4. Pay attention to frequent violations. Generally referred to as the BLT’s of kit violations — brakes, lights and tires — fleets ought to instruct their drivers to be additional diligent in inspecting these areas, as they’re essentially the most generally assessed tools violations. Along with inspecting their automobile, drivers should put together and signal a written report itemizing any defect or deficiency that might impression operational security or result in a mechanical breakdown of elements and equipment.

The next must be examined throughout every pre-¹ and post-trip² inspection, per the FMCSA:

• Service brakes, together with trailer brake connections
• Parking (hand) brake
• Steering mechanism
• Lighting gadgets and reflectors
• Tires
• Horn
• Windshield wipers
• Rear-vision mirrors
• Coupling gadgets
• Wheels and rims
• Emergency tools

5. Focus on how tools violations have an effect on the corporate. Inform your drivers that DOT violations result in extra inspections, attainable lack of clients because of a poor DOT compliance report and will increase insurance coverage prices. Good tools inspections assist preserve your drivers and the motoring public secure.

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[1] FMCSA “6.3.4 Equipment, Inspection, and Use (392.7-392.9),” Accessed March 21, 2023.

[2] Code of Federal Rules “396.11 driver vehicle inspection report(s),” March 17, 2023.

[3] FMCSA “Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report,” Accessed March 21, 2023.

[4] Josh Fisher “Bad brakes, false logs were most common 2022 Roadcheck violations,” Sept. 14, 2022.