Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) inspections are important because they help prevent accidents and injuries. You should also realize that we are required by law to inspect, repair, and maintain all CMVs so that they are always roadworthy and safe to operate.

To help our organization comply with the rules, you need to understand the requirements of CMV inspection regulations. You must also be familiar with any inspection-related duties that you have as part of your job.

Session Objectives

The main objective of this session is to explain the requirements of federal CMV inspection regulations. By the time this session is over, you should be able to:

• Understand the inspection, repair, and maintenance requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations;
• Perform pre- and postoperation vehicle inspections and write and review inspection reports;
• Identify periodic inspection requirements; and
• Comprehend inspector qualifications and recordkeeping requirements under the regulations.

Why CMV Inspections Are Important

CMV inspections are important because they help prevent accidents, deaths, and injuries.

• Every year tens of thousands of CMVs are involved in road accidents.
• These accidents take the lives of some 5,000 people annually, including truck drivers and other motorists.
• In addition to deaths, there are also many injuries. For example, in one recent year, 100,000 truck drivers and other motorists were injured in CMV-related accidents.
• Of all types of workplace deaths, 663 truck drivers, or 12 percent of all types of workplace deaths that year, died—the most fatalities of any single job title or occupation. Truck drivers also had more nonfatal injuries than workers in many other occupations.

Think about the accidents you’ve seen on the road, the accidents that have occurred to friends and co-workers, and the injuries that have resulted.

Federal Motor Carrier Inspection Requirements

One of the ways to help prevent CMV accidents is to inspect vehicles to make sure they are in safe operating condition. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations specifically address inspections, repairs, and maintenance. The regulations can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations, 49 CFR Section 396. We’ll discuss the requirements in more detail during the session, but to begin, let’s highlight the key provisions.

• According to the regulations, motor carriers must systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all motor vehicles under their control. Operation of a motor vehicle in a condition that is likely to cause an accident is not permitted.
• Motor carriers must require all drivers to prepare a written report based on an inspection of their vehicle at the end of each workday if the vehicle was operated that day.
• If the driver’s written report identifies any defect or deficiency that may affect safe operation, the motor carrier must repair these defects before the vehicle may be operated again.
• A CMV may be used only if all parts identified in Appendix G of the regulations have passed inspection at least once during the previous 12 months.
• Finally, documentation of the inspection must be kept on the vehicle.

Driver Preoperation Inspection

The regulations require drivers to perform a preoperation inspection before driving any CMV.

• Before getting behind the wheel, drivers should conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle to make sure that the CMV is in safe operating condition;
• Drivers must also review the last driver vehicle inspection report;
• If defects or deficiencies were identified in the report, the current driver must sign the report to acknowledge that he or she has reviewed the report and that there is a certification that the required repairs have been performed; and
• Drivers are prohibited from operating a CMV with reported defects unless there is certification that necessary repairs have been made.

Think about the preoperation inspections you perform and the thing you look for.

Driver Postoperation Inspections

In addition to preoperation inspections, drivers are required to inspect their vehicles at the end of each workday if the vehicle was operated that day. Inspections must cover at least the following parts and accessories:

• Service brakes including trailer brake connections;
• Parking brake;
• Steering mechanism and horn;
• Lighting devices and reflectors, windshield wipers, and rearview mirrors;
• Tires, wheels, and rims;
• Coupling devices; and
• Emergency equipment.

Think about all the components that you need to inspect when performing a postoperation CMV inspection. Think about how you would inspect these things and what is likely to break or malfunction.

Postoperation Inspection Reports

Each driver must prepare a written postoperation inspection report.

• Postoperation inspection reports must identify the vehicle and list any defect or deficiency discovered by or reported to the driver that would affect the safety of operation of the vehicle or result in its mechanical breakdown. If no problems are found, the driver should indicate this in the report.
• Drivers must sign their postoperation inspection reports. On two-driver operations, only one driver needs to sign the report, provided both drivers agree about any defects or deficiencies identified in the report.
• If a driver operates more than one vehicle during the day, a report has to be prepared for each vehicle the driver operated.
• Also, think about the requirements for preparing postoperation inspection reports and the information you must include in these reports.

Corrective Action Based On Inspection Reports

• Motor carriers must review each driver report and correct any and all safety problems before allowing a driver to operate a vehicle with reported defects or deficiencies;
• Motor carriers must certify, on an original driver vehicle inspection report that lists any defect or deficiency, that the problem has been corrected;
• Motor carriers must retain the original driver inspection report, the certification of repairs, and the certification of the driver’s review for 3 months from the date the written report was prepared; and
• If repairs are made en route at a commercial repair facility, either the driver or the commercial repair facility may certify that the necessary repairs have been made.

Roadside Vehicle Inspections

• In addition to CMV inspections conducted by motor carriers and drivers, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) or state government personnel also conduct roadside inspections of CMVs covered by the regulations.
• A vehicle examination report is completed to record the results of roadside inspections. Drivers must deliver inspection reports to the motor carrier within 24 hours. Drivers who will not arrive at the terminal within 24 hours should mail the report to their carrier.
• Carriers must review roadside vehicle examination reports. If any safety violations are noted, the carrier must take corrective action before allowing any driver to operate the vehicle.
• Motor carriers must sign and return roadside inspection reports within 15 days, certifying that any violations have been corrected.
• And, copies of roadside inspection reports must be retained for 1 year.

Are you familiar with the proper procedure for dealing with roadside inspections and for delivering roadside inspection reports to the designated personnel in the organization?

 ‘Out of Service’ Notices

• If a roadside inspection turns up safety problems that make it unsafe for the driver to continue driving the CMV, the FMCSA inspector can declare the vehicle “out of service.”
• An out of service sticker is used to mark these vehicles.
• CMVs declared out of service cannot be operated until all repairs required by the out of service notice have been satisfactorily completed.
• Finally, no one is allowed to remove an out of service sticker from any CMV before all repairs required by the out of service notice have been completed.

Routine Inspections: True or False

Let’s see how much you remember about the information we’ve just covered about CMV regulations and routine inspections. You have to decide if the statements on the screen are true or false. Let’s begin.

• Drivers must review the last inspection report before operating a CMV. True or false? The correct answer is true. Drivers must be satisfied that the vehicle is safe to drive and that any safety problems have been corrected.
• After a postoperation inspection the driver must only write a report if safety problems are identified. True or false? The correct answer is false. Drivers must write a report after every post-trip inspection, even if no defects or deficiencies are found.
• Motor carrier employees conduct roadside inspections. True or false? The correct answer is false. These inspections are conducted by state or federal officials.
• You can continue to drive an out of service vehicle for up to 7 days before repairs are made. True or false? The correct answer is false. You are not permitted to operate an out of service vehicle until necessary repairs are made.

How did you do? Did you get all the answers right?

Routine Inspections

Now it’s time to ask yourself if you understand all the information presented so far. Do you understand what we’ve said about:

• The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations?
• Driver vehicle inspections?
• Driver inspection reports?
• Roadside vehicle inspection and examination reports?
• Out of service determinations?
• Required corrective action based on report findings?

You need to understand all this information so that you can help us comply with the regulations and conduct proper inspections of CMVs.

Periodic CMV Inspections

In addition to daily CMV inspections, vehicles must also be given more comprehensive periodic safety inspections.

• Every CMV must be fully inspected and serviced at least once every 12 months.
• The periodic inspection must cover all the components identified in Appendix G of the inspection, repair, and maintenance regulations. We’ll talk more about Appendix G in the next slide.
• The periodic inspection report must identify the vehicle inspected and include the date of inspection, name of inspector, and certification that the vehicle passed inspection.
• A copy of the inspection report must be retained for 14 months.
• Finally, periodic inspections can be performed by qualified employees of the motor carrier or by a qualified commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop, or other business authorized to perform periodic CMV inspections.

You should be familiar with the organization’s procedure for performing periodic CMV inspections.

Appendix G Components

The regulations state that each of these components identified in Appendix G must be fully inspected and serviced during the annual inspection:

• Brake systems;
• Coupling devices;
• Exhaust system;
• Fuel system;
• Lighting devices; and
• Steering mechanism.

The next slide identifies additional inspection items from Appendix G.

Appendix G Components (cont.)

Additional components that must be inspected during periodic inspections include:

• Safe loading, including protection against shifting or falling cargo;
• Suspension;
• Frame;
• Tires;
• Wheels and rims; and
• Windshield and windshield wipers.

Qualifications of Periodic

Only qualified individuals are allowed to conduct periodic inspections.

• Inspectors must understand regulatory inspection criteria.
• They must also have mastered the methods, procedures, tools, and equipment necessary to conduct periodic inspections.
• Also, inspectors must also have at least 1 year of specific training and/or experience that qualifies them to perform periodic inspections. This can be participation in a state or federal training program for CMV inspectors, through experience as a mechanic who inspects, repairs, and maintains CMVs, or through prior experience as a CMV inspector.

Qualifications of Brake Inspectors

Brake inspectors must also have at least 1 year of training and/or experience to qualify.

• Training can be participation in an apprenticeship program conducted by the state or federal government or by a labor union. Brake inspectors can also qualify after participating in a training program conducted by a state or federal agency.
• Experience performing brake maintenance or inspection can also qualify an individual to be a brake inspector.

CMV Inspection Recordkeeping

The regulations require motor carriers to keep inspection records on all CMVs that are under the carrier’s control for 30 days or more. In addition, the records must:

• Identify the vehicle by serial number.
• Include inspection and maintenance schedules and reports.
• Identify the date and nature of any repairs made on the vehicle, and finally,
• Inspection records must be retained for 1 year, and 6 months after a vehicle leaves the carrier’s control.

Keeping complete and accurate records is an important part of compliance with the regulations. Be sure you always do your part to ensure that our recordkeeping practices are effective.

Periodic Inspections Q&A

Now let’s test your knowledge of the information presented in the previous slides with a question and answer quiz. Read each question on the screen and decide on the answer. Then click below the question to see the correct answer. You can begin now.

[PAUSE]

How did you do? Did you get all the answers right?

Periodic Inspections And Recordkeeping

Do you understand the information presented in the previous slides about periodic inspections and inspection recordkeeping requirements? For example, do you understand:

• Periodic inspection requirements?
• Appendix G components that must be inspected during periodic inspections?
• Inspector qualifications?
• CMV inspection recordkeeping requirements?

It’s important for you to understand all this information even if it does not specifically apply to your job duties. Your general understanding of the regulation requirements will help us comply and prevent accidents and injuries.

Key Points to Remember

Here are the main points to remember from the session on CMV inspections:

• Appropriate inspections must be performed on all CMVs according to the requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations;
• Inspection reports must be written and reviewed; and
• Defects and deficiencies identified by inspections must be repaired before a CMV can be operated.

This concludes the CMV inspections training session.