DVER Basics

What is a DVER?

A DVER, or Driver/Vehicle Examination Report, is the driver/motor carrier’s copy of the results of a completed roadside inspection.

Upon completing the roadside inspection, the officer will provide the driver with a DVER that summarizes the results of the inspection. This document will contain multiple pieces of information including the driver and carrier data, the violations found and the agency’s contact numbers.

What does a driver have to do with a DVER?

Upon receiving a DVER, a driver must deliver it to his/her employing motor carrier as soon as possible.

Technically, the regulations grant up to 24 hours to do this, but drivers really should strive to get these to their company immediately.

Simply taking a photo of the inspection report and then sending it via email to their manager or dispatcher will satisfy the requirement. But, you do want to make sure that the original is forwarded to the company very quickly as well. Most carriers just have their driver send the original with their next trip pack. 

What does the motor carrier have to do with the DVER?

The motor carrier official must examine the roadside inspection report and determine the next course of action depending on the violations received.

If a driver violation was received (Hours of Service, Unsafe Driving, Driver Fitness, etc.), then the carrier should respond according to their progressive discipline policy. This would likely include interviewing the driver to gain a better understanding of the situation that led to the violation. If disciplining the driver is necessary, the carrier should make sure that all conversations and activities are clearly and carefully documented.  

If a vehicle maintenance violation is noted, then the motor carrier must take action to have the needed repairs made as soon as possible. This could include having the truck’s brakes adjusted, windshield repaired, tire(s) replaced or a whole laundry list of other potential repairs.

Regardless of the type of violation(s) received, the motor carrier must sign the report to certify that all violations have been corrected and return it to the address indicated within 15 days after the inspection.

The motor carrier must also retain a copy of the report for 12 months from the date of the inspection.

It’s also a great idea to make copies of all repair receipts associated with the inspection and keep those with the original inspection report. This will help in the event of a safety audit or compliance review as the auditor may request to see the proof or repair associated with each DVER.

Having these documents together will demonstrate that you have an efficient organization system and convey how much you care about compliance.

For more information, the specifics of this regulation are found in §396.9.

What happens if the 15-day DVER return period expires?

If you do find that you’ve missed submitting a signed DVER to a state, simply send it as soon as you realize the error.

Missing the 15-day return deadline generally isn’t that big of a deal, but it could cost you. Some states will fine you for every day that the returned DVER is late. Other states may never catch it, but these things have a way of surfacing when you least expect it. 

What if we lost the original DVER?

If the original DVER is misplaced or a driver “forgets” to provide the carrier with a DVER, the carrier can still obtain a copy from the FMCSA through the DataQ system via this link: https://dataqs.fmcsa.dot.gov/login.asp.

Once on the site, simply click the button that reads “Request an Inspection Report.” 

You can then input the inspection report number and the FMCSA with forward the report to you via email.

The roadside inspection and DVER process is a critical part of your compliance system. It is one of the important ways that the FMCSA and State DOT partners provide some “ongoing feedback” into how safe a carrier’s operations are.

Developing a solid process for handling your roadside inspection reports will ensure that needed repairs are completed more quickly and will help you avoid any unwanted attention from law enforcement. Additionally, having a good process in place will show state and federal compliance auditors that you’re serious about regulatory compliance.

We can manage this entire process for you with our My Safety Manager program. To learn more about how we can help you with this, just visit www.MySafetyManager.com today!