While pre and post trip inspections are required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), most operators aren't conducting them properly if they're conducting them at all. The alarming truth is that most motor carriers aren't prioritizing pre and post trip inspections, and this is costing them thousands.
Every person operating a commercial motor vehicle needs to ensure that they are completing a proper pre/post trip inspection every time they start shift or if they change vehicles throughout their shift. This inspection needs to be thorough, with the driver inspecting all around the vehicle to ensure the safety not only themselves but those on the road. If drivers are conducting proper inspections, they are ensuring their vehicle is always in safe, working order.
Vehicle malfunctions rarely happen overnight. Often times, the wear and tear on vehicles happens over weeks, if not months, of small issues growing into larger problems affecting the vehicle.
Avoid potential vehicle malfunctions with a Pre/Post Trip Inspection!
Pre/Post Trip Inspection Training online for your drivers will teach them to identify potential hazards with their vehicle and fill out the DVIR. Use code FRCS10 for $10 off the purchase of the course!
There is no part of the vehicle that is more important to look at during an inspection, as every part has its own purpose. Inspecting the entire vehicle is crucial.
Brakes are arguably one of the most important components on any vehicle, let alone a commercial vehicle. The brakes are probably the hardest working mechanism on the vehicle, and subject to the most wear and tear. Almost a third of all roadside inspection violations have to do with issues with the brakes. Brake-related problems account for 22% of vehicle component failure accidents.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that tire malfunctions contribute to nearly 19,000 motor vehicle accident each year. Taking the time to properly inspect the tires before starting to operate a vehicle for tread depth, tire pressure, or punctures. Tire blowouts account for more than 12,000 truck accidents annually, many of them causing injuries and fatalities, not to mention property damage.
The suspension system on a CMV holds vehicles and their loads that can weigh up to 80,000 lbs. Therefore, broken suspension parts can be extremely dangerous. Suspension malfunctions contribute to 4.3% of all out-of-service vehicle violations.
While it is not necessary to perform a proper pre-trip inspection, the pre and post trip inspections are required by the FMCSA every time you start a shift, operate a vehicle during a shift, and complete a shift. Training your drivers what a proper pre/post trip inspection looks like will help them conduct them and save your company from violations and fines. Lucky for you, we offer pre/post trip training online through our online DOT Training platform, DOT University! Click the link below to purchase it now.
Use code FRCS10 for $10 off the purchase of Pre/Post Trip Training!
Make sure to check out our other classes offered through DOT University! We currently are offering Reasonable Suspicion for Supervisors, Cargo Securement, Defensive Driving, and Pre/Post Trip Inspection. In the coming months, we plan on releasing DOT Compliance Essentials and Appendix A.
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