Trucks go through several types of inspections, including roadside inspections and driver vehicle inspections. Below we discuss some of the most common truck inspections:
Roadside inspections. If a driver undergoes a roadside inspection, the driver must provide his or her employer with the inspection report. The truck company then has 15 days to correct all violations, sign the report, and mail it to the address indicated on the report. The carrier must keep a copy of the report for 12 months from the date of the inspection.
Annual inspections. Commercial vehicles, including trailers, must undergo inspection at least once every year. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations have a list of items that must be inspected. The motor carrier must keep a copy of the inspection report for a minimum of 14 months from the report date. A motor carrier may perform the inspection itself.
Driver vehicle inspections. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also requires that drivers conduct a daily, post-trip inspection report at the end of each driving day. The report should note any deficiencies or defects that the driver has noticed. If the issue affects the safety of the vehicle, a driver must repair it immediately. Otherwise, the motor carrier must certify that the repair does not pose a safety hazard and thus doesn’t need to be rectified immediately. Copies of driver vehicle inspections must be kept for a minimum of 3 months.