DOT INSPECTIONS - insane

All out there should think about this. As of January 1, 2009 the entire 50 states were suppose to get rid of most of their state DOT vehicle codes and go to writing violations under the FMCSR safety regulation book only. Here in Michigan that has happened pretty well. I suggest that you all get with the FMCSA in your state or in Washington and fire the questions at them at why is states still using state vehicle code laws when every state was suppose to be writing DOT safety tickets for violations under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation book. Many officers are rouge officers that want to still use their state vehicle codes instead of the FMCSR regulations. I'd raise some hell with the FMCSA and the state police from these states. It is the only why to get these states to be uniform across the board. This was the reason for going to the regulation book to make enforcement within each state for truckers uniform. This is what they were preaching to me as a Michigan State Police, Motor Carrier Division, Safety Auditor before I retired and started Safety Management Systems in late 2007.

I think all Equipment Safety Violation tickets should go to the owner not the driver.Maybe then they will repair the equipment.

Dot

Hey all, just found this site, had to join. I get stopped all the time . Last Oct. I was stopped four out of five days in one week. Twice last week. Most of the time they just check for a permit and paper work.

Required to run, or else!

Hello.

I had worked on and off for several years for Olmos Equipment, 440 Pinn Rd San Antonio Texas.
I was on layoff and decided to drive a big truck.
Came back in 1993 and was put back with my old super', dirt crew.
Inside of a week I was told to report to the office.
I was told to report for DOT drug screen and physical and road test.
I said that I did not want to operate a big truck, I was just fine on the blade.
The director of safety said that I had to at least qualify, this way he gets a $200 bonus and meets quota.
I said no.
I was told flat out that I drive an end dump or I am out of a job.
I no longer work there and was told a few months age that "Because of what you did the last time you were here" I could not return.

rino said:

PROCUT:
There was a company driver who told the company his brakes weren't working well. He was told to either drive the truck or find another job. He took the truck with the brakes out of adjustment, and couldn't stop going down hill loaded. He ran into a car and killed a grandmother and her 2 grandchildren.

The company said the driver never reported the brakes were not working, yet he had a copy of the Daily Drivers Report, that showed he reported the brakes were not working. The driver didn't know that he could refuse the truck, and keep his job under DOT rules. Needless to say that driver is spending 5 to 15 for accidental vehicular homicide. The company walks Scott free.

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If this wreck happened at I-77 and St route 82 in ohio quite a few years ago. I cleaned up that wreck. It was one of the saddest yet most infuriating wreck I ever worked. I could not believe how out of adjustment the brakes were in that dump when we finally got it back upright and on the road. The brakes would not hold the truck with the parking brake applied. That grandmother and 2 kids died for no reason.

Oversizeload said:

If this wreck happened at I-77 and St route 82 in ohio quite a few years ago. I cleaned up that wreck. It was one of the saddest yet most infuriating wreck I ever worked. I could not believe how out of adjustment the brakes were in that dump when we finally got it back upright and on the road. The brakes would not hold the truck with the parking brake applied. That grandmother and 2 kids died for no reason.

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I wonder why the driver did not adjust his own brakes.I adjust mine for one reason ever since a mechanic backed them off one time I do not trust anybody doing this.It was a good thing I tried them before I left the yard.All drivers should know are learn to adjust brakes.All though some companies don't want you doing this but when it comes to safety I'll adjust.

2stickbill said:

I wonder why the driver did not adjust his own brakes.I adjust mine for one reason ever since a mechanic backed them off one time I do not trust anybody doing this.It was a good thing I tried them before I left the yard.All drivers should know are learn to adjust brakes.All though some companies don't want you doing this but when it comes to safety I'll adjust.

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I agree I adjust my own brakes all the time. With the weight I haul I want to know they are right and not depend on a mechanic that forget something during a service. I use my engine brake ALOT probably why my trailer brakes lasted over 4yrs on the lowboy I pull.

Just heard a great story I wanted to share.Certainly made my day.The combo rest stop/DOT inspection area on RT 84 going East past Danbury,Ct.The DOT boys were pulling over and detaining straight trucks and trailers carrying US mail.Those drivers are on a very strict timetable from point to point--they only are issued a fairly small window of BS time.The drivers were complaining to their superiors that they were being harassed by these cops for no good reason.Calls were placed to the higher ups at DOT,explaining the situation that these trucks are on a very strict PM schedule and there's no need for this harassment.They were basically laughed at--the harassment continued.US mail,being a federal arm of our gov't,organized some federal marshalls to go to said checkpoint and arrested the DOT boys for interference of US mail getting delivered.They were NOT brought before a local judge--they put them in front of a federal judge.After whatever sentencing was admonished,the guy in charge representing US mail asked the judge to simply release them.He got his point across--enough said.

tuney443 said:

Just heard a great story I wanted to share.Certainly made my day.The combo rest stop/DOT inspection area on RT 84 going East past Danbury,Ct.The DOT boys were pulling over and detaining straight trucks and trailers carrying US mail.Those drivers are on a very strict timetable from point to point--they only are issued a fairly small window of BS time.The drivers were complaining to their superiors that they were being harassed by these cops for no good reason.Calls were placed to the higher ups at DOT,explaining the situation that these trucks are on a very strict PM schedule and there's no need for this harassment.They were basically laughed at--the harassment continued.US mail,being a federal arm of our gov't,organized some federal marshalls to go to said checkpoint and arrested the DOT boys for interference of US mail getting delivered.They were NOT brought before a local judge--they put them in front of a federal judge.After whatever sentencing was admonished,the guy in charge representing US mail asked the judge to simply release them.He got his point across--enough said.

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That will teach them DOT boys a lesson! :roll Wish I could have been there to see it.

So let me get this right, If I decide to buy a tractor (weighing 13k) across a state line, I will need to have it dropped off at the state line? To keep from getting a of bunch tickets.

Ive been stopped twice this year and I asked the O.D. guy about breake adjustment , he told me 1 3/4 inch stroke on the back and 2 inches on the front. My jaw just about hit the floor board, I didn't say anything but felt it would be pretty tuff to stop a loaded log truck with that much slack. I run mine tight up to the drum and back off a quarter of a turn.

Autocar said:

Ive been stopped twice this year and I asked the O.D. guy about breake adjustment , he told me 1 3/4 inch stroke on the back and 2 inches on the front. My jaw just about hit the floor board, I didn't say anything but felt it would be pretty tuff to stop a loaded log truck with that much slack. I run mine tight up to the drum and back off a quarter of a turn.

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Your right on the money with your adjustment A-Car. The measurements the DOT gave are the max travel limitations. The general mindset with most of the fleet companies is that the self adjusters are there to do their job and keep the adjustment within those limitations. When any part of that system fails, then they find their trk/trl setting with an OOS order. That's why I religiously adjust mine before I leave home and after I load. It also affords me a good look-see at the underside of the truck and trailer. Never know what ya might find under there.

We only have one dump truck with self adjusters. I like the concept but I've learned to check brakes at least once a month (a city dump truck) even with new slacks. Not unusual to need some adjustment. I got curious why they're not better so I looked up service literature from the manufacturer (I can't remember which one at the moment). They stated plainly that they need brake applications at something like 80% to adjust properly. So the conclusion was that a gentle driver needed a lot more manual brake adjustment than the rough guy who beats up the brakes.

I agree with those that say it is more about money than anything else. If it is truly about safety and all these regs are such a great idea, then let's extend them to ALL drivers and vehicles on the road! Or how about they simply get reasonable?

Years ago I had 5 trucks hauling sand fill into a job. All got scaled and grossed OK but one didn't axle out. The cop gave the 64 y.o. driver 20 minutes to shift the load by hand. He would not let the other drivers help or let the driver use a shovel since THAT truck waas not equipped with one- even though some of the other trucks did, it could not be borrowed. Driver gave it his best shot and dogpaddled as long as he could and got pegged for the heavy axle. I have to wonder if that cop would impose those conditions on someone like, say, his fatheror maybe his daughter if they were comm. drivers?

I would like to be part of a group to bestow upon our representatives in gov't the stories of hardship we have endured from the rogue law enforement in the name of safety. This is an attack on the livelyhood of those that for the most part, comply with the rules and regs. In my opinion the detaining of a truck longer than 15 minutes -or something reasonable- is Restraint of Trade - a Federal offense. In the first 2 minutes the average cop can tell if there is a major infraction- pull that one to the side for more inspection and move on to the next truck. And don't waste time and resources on the petty stuff. Common on, being tagged for a box of tissues in the cab ( loose article in the operator's compartment), 8'-7"- overwidth without a permit (the tire bulge on a artic truck on a lowbed) , defective brakes (oil on rim from brake service the day before, dry shoes) and on and on.

This is to all those active and lurking here that are in or were in law enforcement- what percentage of accidents involving passenger and comm vehicles were the operator of the passenger vehicle found at fault?

And people wonder why I'm shutting down the trucking side of my business on May 31. I'm tired of being the government's ATM.