Effective Driver Vehicle Inspections
This webcast will cover ...
• How to link safety and maintenance
• Regulations on the federal vehicle
inspection vehicle
• Effective policies, procedures and drive
and maintenance training
• Question & Answer
Moderator
Dr. Gary Petty, President & CEO, NPTC
Panelists
Tom Bray, Sr. Editor – Transportation Management,
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Tom Moore, CTP, Senior Vice President, NPTC
Greg Whisenant, Corporate Risk Management,
Transportation Safety Manager, Shaw Industries,
Inc.
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within 7 days at:
http://www.jjkeller.com/nptcinfo
Dr. Gary Petty
President & CEO
National Private Truck Council
Introduction
• Regulations – Tom Bray
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
• Policy and Procedure Best Practices – Tom Moore
• Shaw Industries’s Program – Greg Whisenant
• Housekeeping issues:
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 Please use the Question feature to text questions to the Q&A
Panelist. We’ll try to answer them during the Q&A period if they are
not covered in the presentation.
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DOT Driver Inspection
Requirements
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Thomas Bray
Senior Editor, Transportation Management
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Unsafe Operations
Forbidden (396.7)
• Catchall for law enforcement and auditors
Tom Bray
• A motor vehicle shall not be operated in such
J. J. Keller &
a condition as to likely cause an accident or a Associates, Inc.
breakdown of the vehicle.
• Knowingly operating an unsafe vehicle can make a
carrier criminally liable.
Driver Inspections
• Required by the regulations
• Pre-Trip (§392.7 and §396.13)
• Enroute inspections (§392.9 and §397.17)
• Post Trip/DVIR (§396.11)
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Driver Inspections
• Pre-trip (§392.7 and §396.13)
 Driver cannot operate the vehicle until the driver
is satisfied with the condition of the vehicle
(Part 393 and Appendix G are the guides)
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
 Regulations list the MINIMUM that must be checked.
Many carriers require more!
 No required form, however, many carriers have developed
mandatory forms or require flagging on the driver’s log
(best practice).
Driver Inspections
• Enroute:
 Only required if vehicle is hauling unsealed cargo
or hazardous materials.
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
 HM: Done every time the vehicle is parked.
 Cargo securement: Driver must stop every 3 hours/150 miles to
check unsealed cargo.
 “Walkaround inspection” checking tires, lights, hubs, cargo
securement, coupling devices, and general condition.
 No required form. Best practice, “flag” on log.
Driver Inspections
• Post-trip (§396.11)
 Driver must report condition of the vehicle at the
end of the workday to the carrier in writing
(DVIR form required). As a best practice, carriers
require this inspection to be noted on the driver’s log.
 Regulations list the MINIMUM that must be reported on.
Many carriers require more!
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Audit Point
DVIR violation in compliance reviews common (number
Tom Bray
one critical violation).
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
• Common violations:
 Failure to submit.
 Failure to act on reported defects (can lead to claims of
knowingly operating unsafe equipment).
 Failure to have certifying signatures.
 Failure to retain.
DVIR Flow-No Defect
Driver finds no defect
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Driver signs DVIR showing no defects
Next driver reviews DVIR as part of pre-trip
and submits DVIR to carrier (no “second or
third signature” required)
DVIR Flow Driver
Reports Defect
Driver notes defect on form
Mechanic or carrier official acts on
report, then signs that repairs were
completed or not necessary
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Next driver to pre-trip vehicle reviews previous
DVIR and signs agreeing with the mechanic
or carrier official
DVIR with all signatures is submitted
to the carrier
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Tom Moore, CTP
Senior Vice President
National Private Truck Council
Why Do You Need to Conduct a
Pre- and Post-Trip Inspection?
• Compliance
 The Driver & Manager can be held liable
• A good inspection helps prevent road calls
and interruptions to sales
• Why aren’t the regs followed?
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Conflicting goals
Forms and processes that lead to poor follow-through
Complexity of Equipment
Poor training/understanding
Drivers don’t believe the company listens or cares
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Driver Inspections
• “Care and Feeding” of Vehicles by
Drivers Is a Training and Policy
Issue!
• Roadside and maintenance inspections
best gauge of driver performance
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Driver Inspections
Make sure drivers have necessary tools:
 Training that emphasizes regulatory requirements,
timing of inspections, developing a routine, and
standardization.
 Tire gauge
 Hammer
 Flashlight
 Gloves
 Inspection checklist
 Contact number and name for questions
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Driver Inspections
• Critical components of any inspection:
 Under hood.
 In cab (including driver, vehicle,
and shipment paperwork).
 Walkaround, including lights (the largest component).
 Airbrake check.
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Driver Inspections
• Example of routine:
Tom Moore
 During the walkaround portion of the pre- and
National Private
post-trip, have lights on and take one step
Truck Council
and check everything you see working from top down, then
under, checking inside out when looking under.
 When at any wheel check, check as much of the following as
possible:
 Brakes (air lines, chamber, pushrod, adjuster, S-cam and
pins, brake lining, drum or rotor).
 Suspension (hangers, springs, arms, shocks, bags, etc.)
 Wheel assembly (rims, lugs, hub, hub oil level and leaks).
 Tires (tread, condition, and inflation).
Audit Your Inspection
Practices
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Road Breakdowns
Out of service rates
Accident rates
Equipment violation citations
Maintenance cost and repair
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Benefits to Employees
Driver Benefits
• Improved asset uptime
• No departure delays
• Decreased risk of DOT fines
• Clearer lines of communication
•Technician Benefits
• Improved asset uptime
• Improved productivity
• Streamlined paper work process
• Educated driver
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Benefits to Company
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Lower overall maintenance costs
Reduced breakdowns
Increased fuel mileage
Improved on-time percentages
DOT Compliant – Better CSA Scores
KPI Data for Improved Maintenance
Trained/harmonious employees
 Improved Communication
 Improved retention
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
FPO
Greg Whisenant
Corporate Risk Management
Transportation Safety Manager
Shaw Transport Inc.
Shaw Transport
Fleet Operations
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Shaw Industries Inc. – 23,000+ employees
Flooring Manufacturing Company
Shaw Transport Inc.
Private/For-Hire Fleet
1,250 + Drivers
50,000,000 miles annually
800+ Power Units
Berkshire Hathaway Company
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
Shaw Transport Divisions
• Over The Road Division
Greg Whisenant
153 Power Units Single & Team Operations
Shaw Industries
• Peddle Division
52 Power Units Southeast Delivery Drivers
• Inter-Plant Division
94 Power Units Local Pant to Local Distribution
Facilities
• 28 Regional Distribution Facilities
430 Power Units
The remaining power units are operated by
various divisions.
Purpose of DVIR
• To have an established procedure for drivers
to perform pre and post trip inspections required Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation
(FMCSR)
• The pre and post trip inspections recorded daily
on the Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR)
• Help avoid DOT penalties and provide a sound
basis for a good inspection and maintenance
program.
• Daily inspection of vehicles will help prevent small
problems from becoming BIG PROBLEMS
DVIR Driver Responsibilities
• Drivers are responsible for filling out a DVIR at the
end of each day for each vehicle he/she has operated. Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
• The driver is responsible to review the last DVIR,
and make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition
prior to leaving on a trip.
• Pre-trip inspections are to be conducted prior to each
trip to help identify problems that could cause a
breakdown or an accident. (FMCSR 396.13)
• Post-trip inspections must be performed at the end of a
driver’s work day on the commercial motor vehicle
(FMCSR 396.11.)
DVIR’s
• Good Drivers know their equipment!
• Well maintained equipment reduces
violations found during Roadside Inspections.
• Keeps your CSA Score low in the
“Maintenance” category.
• Anytime an accident is litigated DVIR’s are
requested.
• Recommend pulling the last thirty days of
DVIR’s any time an accident occurs in an on
road type accident.
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
DVIR’s
• DVIR Auditing
• Three signatures needed on any DVIR’s with
safety defects.
• Remind drivers to maintain the equipment
like it’s new.
• The no bungee cord or duck tape rule!
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
This a properly
Filled-out DVIR.
Make sure you turn in
the proper color of
paper-work.
Requirements:
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•
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•
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•
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Correct tractor, trailer
number & location.
Explain defects or
deficiency in the remarks
sections.
Check box if “No Defects”
on tractor.
Check box if “No Defects
on trailer.
Sign if defects or
deficiencies are reported
and repaired. Must be
signed by mechanic.
Driver signature every
time form is complete.
Mechanic’s signature if
needed.
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
Electronic DVIR’s
• Recently moved all drivers that operate
vehicles with EOC’s to E-DVIR’s.
• Reduce filing time
• Reports get to operations faster
• And repairs get completed quicker
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
Through Customization & Automation,
Increase DVIR Compliance
• Ensure compliance with
company inspection policies
 Require Driver Upon Login or
Logout to Complete Pre/Post
Trip eDVIR
 Provide a means to review
previous days DVIR and
maintenance messages
• Integration to 3rd party
maintenance packages
 eDVIR
 Odometer
Maintenance Reports for Monitoring
eDVIR Action Items
DVIR’s & CSA Scores
• DVIR’s not only keep maintenance scores down
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
• They can help prevent down time on the roadway
which in turn can prevent HOS violations
• They can prevent accidents to keep crash scores
down as well
• At Shaw we feel like our CSA scores come from doing
everything we can to stay compliant and safe.
Shaw Industries CSA
Scores
Question & Answer Session
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
Tom Moore
National Private
Truck Council
Tom Bray
J. J. Keller &
Associates, Inc.
Please continue to submit
your questions.
Greg Whisenant
Shaw Industries
Closing Remarks
• Checkout the archive of past topics at:
http://www.jjkeller.com/nptcinfo
 PowerPoint slides and recording up in 1 week
Gary Petty
National Private
Truck Council
• Remaining topics for 2013:
 July 10, 2013 - DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing
 October 2, 2013 - Physical Qualification of Drivers:
DOT Physicals, CDLs and Med Cards, Functional
Capacity Testing
Thank you for participating
in today’s webcast!
Visit: www.jjkeller.com/nptcinfo
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