Roadside Inspections are Nearing; How to be Prepared

August 19, 2019

Roadside inspections can be daunting and intimidating. Since road inspections are more frequent, here are tips to eliminate stress and make your drivers’ inspections go smoothly.

Understand What is on the Inspection

The most commonly used roadside assessment is the Level- 1 roadside examination. This inspection is a general overview of the truck and the operator of the vehicle. The inspection includes a review of the driver’s paperwork (including the driver’s Medical Examiner’s Certificate (MEC) Form MCSA-5876, license, and hours-of-service record).  The vehicle examination includes the brake, exhaust, and fuel systems. This inspection includes how cargo is secured, lighting devices, and more.

Pre-Trip Inspections are Crucial

Completing a proper pre-trip inspection saves drivers valuable time in the long run! Walking around your truck and doing a pre-trip inspection, helps the operator ensure their vehicle complies with road regulations. Areas of focus include brakes, lights, and tires as well as any leaks or signs of an insecure load, which saves money on expensive repairs down the road.

An article written by Keep Truckin mentions that catching things such as dirty windshield could help! Quoted in the report, by Kentucky State Police Sergeant, Jason Morris, “A dirty windshield can target you for a roadside inspection.” In addition to being a safety issue, a dirty windshield can be a sign of other problems. Inspecting your truck and clearing it of any difficulties, helps decrease the likelihood of being pulled over or unfavorable roadside inspection.

Helpful Hint:

Preparing a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) will help you go through this pre-trip inspection. Evaluate that the regulations listed, and make sure they are being maintained. For the full Federal Regulation requirements visit – www.ecfr.gov

Know & Obey ALL Traffic Rules

Obeying the traffic rules is the best way to prevent undergoing an inspection. A driver vastly decreases their chance of being pulled over by merely following the traffic laws, following the speed limit, hands-free laws, wearing a seatbelt and more lessens the likelihood of facing an inspection.

Keep the Truck Clean and Know Where Items Are

Knowing where emergency supplies and crucial documents are located reduces inspection stress. Truckstop.com explains to “Make sure you have your documentation organized and in order, ideally in a binder or folder that you can easily access”:

• Driver’s license
• Registration
• Vehicle insurance
• Medical Examiner’s Certificate
• Record of Duty Status
• Annual inspection records
• Hazardous materials paperwork
• IFTA card
• Permit credentials.

This saves inspection time and can help ensure you pass the inspection.

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