THERE’S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME FOR A FIGHT, AND THAT TIME IS NOW!

On Saturday, I wrote, "Let the controversy begin." Those who know me when I get laser-focused on something, and I know I'm right, nobody can out-debate me. I have been in the industry for 44 years and have seen some nasty stuff on the roads with truck accidents and on & in their equipment when they bumped my docks. Those of you who have not worked for a shipper would not understand this because you can't see this from afar. So, I am here to educate you.

Let's delve into an overlooked thought-provoking topic- "Pre-Trip Inspections." This article aims to inform and raise awareness about the importance of these inspections, especially for those who may need more clarification on their significance.

So, what is a Pre-Trip inspection?

A pre-trip inspection is more than just a routine. It's a crucial step to ensure public safety. Neglecting this could lead to serious malfunctions on the road. A typical pre-trip inspection involves checking fluid levels, leaks, tires, brakes, shock absorbers, fifth wheel, and other components. After completing the inspection, please record your findings on a DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Report). Any issues discovered must be resolved before you start your journey. Remember, a thorough vehicle pre-trip is not just a recommendation. It's the law and the requirement that takes approximately 30 minutes.

Below is an example of a Pre-Check I put together:

Engine Off Criteria:

·???????? Engine oil within acceptable limits.

·???????? Fan belts are tight and show no noticeable damage.

·???????? Coolant level acceptable.

·???????? Tire tread and sidewalls show no damage.

·???????? Do your tires look underinflated?

·???????? Are windows clean inside & out?

·???????? Are the windshield wipers clean and not stuck onto the windshield?

·???????? Do your seat belts function correctly?

·???????? Is there an emergency / Incident reporting kit in the cab?

·???????? Is a fire extinguisher on board, and is it fully charged?

Engine On Criteria

·???????? Do your headlights function on both high & low beams?

·???????? Do your turn signals function properly?

·???????? Do your brake lights function correctly, including the third brake?

·???????? Do your reverse lights and backup alarms function properly?

·???????? Did you discover any fluid leaks?

·???????? Does your horn work properly?

·???????? Do your mirrors function properly and are clean?

·???????? Do your brakes function correctly?

·???????? Did you notice any new damage before using this vehicle?

Let's talk about the legal aspect. The pre-trip inspection is not just a best practice. It's a federal law (I'll get to this in a moment). The waiver you might be aware of is the FMCSA reference that waives 49 CFR 383.113. This is important to note, especially for commercial driver's license (CDL) applicants seeking the school bus (S) and passenger (P) endorsements and the intrastate only (K) restriction.

Notes of concern:

·???????? Vehicle errors caused 10% of truck accidents in the FMCSA report. The study found that 29% of accidents happened due to vehicle brake problems, 4% to cargo shifting, and 6% to tire issues.

·???????? The vast majority of fatal crashes (82 percent) and nonfatal crashes (87 percent) involving large trucks occurred on weekdays (Monday through Friday), and you probably thought it was the weekends.

The driver Is required to inspect the truck before every trip.

Here's a fact: Commercial truck drivers must obtain a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate a truck on commercial roadways. One provision for maintaining this license is performing a pre-trip inspection on the vehicle before every trip. Pre-trip inspections are?(mandatory)?for every trip, and knowing how to conduct them is a core requirement to pass the CDL test.

The law states that if you want to attain a CDL License, you must pass all three parts of the skill test and look at which skill test is #1 on the list.

Ref: https://cdl-test.org/blog/cdl-pre-trip-inspection-step-by-step-guidelines

There are three parts to your CDL skills test.

#1 - Pre-Check Inspection Test.

#2 - Basic Vehicle Control Test.

#3 - On-Road Driving Test

The Pre-Trip Vehicle Inspection Test

As it states: To obtain your CDL license, you must complete a pre-trip inspection test. You will have at most 50 minutes to complete a pre-trip vehicle inspection for the state examiner. During the exam, you should identify each part and tell the examiner what you are looking for or inspecting. Within each area, there are multiple parts you must identify.?

You will be required to demonstrate a thorough pre-trip inspection of your vehicle to ensure it is safe to drive.

The inspection is comprehensive, and any issues the driver discovers with the truck and trailer that could compromise its safe operation should be repaired before the trip occurs. However, the?pre-trip inspection is among the job's most disliked and overlooked aspects. But it's the law. It's non-debatable.

Here's another fact: As an example. After a truck blowout accident, the plaintiff's or next of kin's attorney will want to see the driver's pre-trip inspection records to ensure that the driver performed this inspection as the law requires. Their lawyer will focus on the driver's notes about the tires. During the examination, drivers should ensure the tires are correctly inflated and have decent tread. Flat spots in the tires indicate the need to replace them.

The trucking company or owner-operator is responsible for ensuring the truck is maintained.

Compared to other vehicle types, commercial trucks travel many more miles, often at higher speeds, and carry up to 80,000 pounds in a loaded trailer. This causes the truck's parts, such as the engine, brakes, and tires, to wear more quickly.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires all trucking companies or owners to commit to?a systematic schedule for inspecting, maintaining, and repairing their trucks. This differs from the mandatory requirement, as federally stated when attaining a CDL license.

They must keep records of information such as:

·???????? Identifying information about the vehicle, including its identification number, make model, and year.

• When was the vehicle last serviced, and what was the due date for its next inspection?
• The inspections and repairs made to the vehicle, including the type and date of the repairs and who performed them.

Their attorney will likely want to see the truck's maintenance records to determine when its tires were replaced.

The mechanic or shop is responsible for providing maintenance service.

While tire failures are most commonly the responsibility of the commercial truck driver or the trucking company that owns the vehicle, some circumstances in which, the mechanic or shop responsible for providing maintenance services can be found liable.

This generally occurs when the mechanic repairs a problem or provides maintenance services, failing to detect a significant and noticeable issue such as a defective tire.

So, don't tell me you don't do Pre-Check inspections on every trip as required by law and part of attaining your CDL license, which you carry with you every day because you don't get paid to perform the mandatory task.

So again, regarding this issue, let me be absolutely clear when I say this, I don't care if you get butt hurt when I say this; I'm not here to make friends; I'm here to save not just your lives but the lives of others on our roads, and protect brokers, and shippers.

Let me ask you this: Do you want the burden on your shoulders that you'll carry with you the rest of your lives when you dispatch a truck, pick up a load, or ship a load, and know that the carrier that YOU hired just killed a family of four?

Don't be stupid and irresponsible! You are required to perform this duty. I'm just getting started, but I will fight this stance with everything I have. I know a few more who will join me in my fight.

Why? Because I love my family! The question is, do you love yours?