DOT/FMCSA 18 Month Mandatory Audit/Inspection

To Everyone with a DOT number and trucks that will require a CDL

Well as everyone knows now that since July 7th 2006 the feds require us to have a DOT number on trucks over 10,000lbs and a class "A" CDL with trailers 10,000lbs and also if the GCVW of truck and trailer is over 26,000 lbs regardless of trailer registered weight. Straight trucks over 26,000lbs require a CDL "B".

Yesterday we went through our FMCSA saftey audit and review (just like it called out for within 18 months of getting the number). We did well and passed our review with just a 4.5 point deduction but the missed points are a biggie and must get corrected very quickly and I wanted to share with you guys so you may be able to correct them before you are visited.

The first Biggie is Drug and Alcohol Testing Both Pre-employment and Random Testing. It used to depend on the size of the fleet but no longer. Whether you have 1 or 100 CDL trucks or drivers you need to be enrolled in a testing program and have it all on file. It is a big cost that has to be absorbed regardless of size.

You also have to have a written drug and alcohol written policy that the employee signs stating he has recieved the policy and understands it just in case he has an issue.

You also have to have a written drug and alcohol abuse policy stating the ramifications (consequences) for someone failing a random test or being suspected of arriving to work in violation of the policy.

You also have to have someone "Trained" as a competent person to evaluate/observe your other employees for substance and alcohol abuse.

Seperate time sheets for CDL drivers running log book exemption (100 air mile radius) showing hours of service last 8 days if you are a 7 day a week operation.

I just wanted to let you all know that if you thought the hassle was over when you got your number for your fleet you are wrong. It is just starting. The daily vehicle inspection reports, the safety equipment, the maintanence forms and stuff is just the tip of the iceburg (Don't forget that anyone adjusting and servicing air brakes needs a special cert).

I must say my inspector spent 4 hours going over everything with me and checking what we already had in compliance and was a pleasure to deal with. He was very patient with me as I asked questions and supplied me with answers that helped me understand what I needed to do. He also showed me in the FeD Law where the requirement came from so that there werre no issues with interpratation of the law. It was all there in Black and White.

As with just about any other DOT/FMCSA policy, what a JOKE.
BRB....I just soiled myself................

OK...Im back.

This war on drugs.......are these people on drugs or what? :beatsme
As you can tell, I don't really care for their drug testing policy.
Why is it anyones business what I do on my own time?
"Off Duty" but under the watchful eye of "The Man"?
Better yet, "Off Duty but still a puppet on a string"
Yeah I take them, and yeah I pass them but why single out someone who has a CDL?
Why not make every person who drives take a pi$$ test?
Lets be fair now and stop dumping on the driver.
If safety was really the DOT/FMCSA main concern, why don't they inspect each and every truck and make each and every driver crossing our borders pi$$ into the all mighty cup?
Make them take the same physical that I take.
Also, make them spend the same money for a background check that you force me to spend?

Oh....I could go on and on..... but why waste my time?
I don't know how a full time driver/ oo can put up with all of this horse poop?

Guess it stems back to our governments lack of testicular fortitude in closing our borders. :soapbox

Ok....sorry about that.
I feel a little better now...

Thanks for the important info. Thats just one more reason I wish i became a genecologist.

Can anyone tell me what the law on **** testing is and ware I can find a copy.
I want to read the law itself not just hearsay.

I also want to know what is needed to work on airbrakes. Not just that one need a cert but what is required to get this piece of paper?

Well we are at it. Everone knows that you need a first aid kit in a comerical truck, but what needs to be in that first aid kit to make it legal?

How about the yearly inspection form for your truck? I have seen atleast 10 differant forms that all say they are the only forms accepted by the man. I have not seen anything from the man himself that says it can not be hand written, with a hand written note in the cab saying it is on file back at the office. I understand it must be dated with a discription of the truck on it.


Administrative fees alone for me to just own a truck that requires a CDL is over $5000 a year even if I don't even start it.

The small guy is been run out of business due to regulations.

We have the same B.S. in Canada with some freaking brain surgeons in the gov't has no freaking clue about trucking creating rules and regulations which is killing the trucking industry.

The only thing we have in B.C. is you "MUST" beable to adjust the brakes even if they are auto slacks or not. The out of adjusted brake fine is expensive its 138 dollars for ever wheel that is out.

The drug testing is manditory most companies won't hire you if you even look like you have a drug problem.

Vehical inspections haven't changed a truck with a GVW of 37,000lbs and over needs a semi inspection any truck less than 37,000 requires a annual inspection. With my F-450 I have to keep maintenance records etc I'am under the radius so I don't need a daily log.

I don't know what you guys are complaining about we have had these rules since 2004 or so. The biggest complaint is the new hours of service is totally stupid. The hours of service really don't affect dump truck drivers like me.

Truck drivers call B.C. the "Republic of British Columbia" because the DOT rules are really strict especially when it comes to brakes. If your truck has any problems it can be condemned on the spot no questions asked. A leaking steering box is a condemn on the spot the DOT cuts your license plates off and your towed. The DOT goes under your truck with soapy water looking for air leaks they don't care if you can't hear it if they find a air leak they will nail you for it.

Ripped truck seats and burnt out dash lights got any of those you will be fined. With gravel trucks mud flaps if they are not regulation height off the ground you got a fine.

If its raining then you won't see any inspectors out they don't like getting wet or if you drive a garbage truck they won't bother you either

Oh ya I hold a motor carrier number which allows me to operate a trucking company if I get any points against my drivers license like speeding tickets then I loose my number. Once you loose your number you can't apply for a new one for another 4 years or something like that.

The whole trucking industry in B.C. is going to h*ll in a hand basket the rules and regulations, companies treating employees like crap. Trucking companies saying they are short of drivers. They wouldn't be short of drivers if they paid a decent wage. There are allot of experienced drivers not driving because the working conditions are so poor.

Dwan Hall said:

The small guy is been run out of business due to regulations.

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And that is the goal of our politicians that take special interest money from lobbists hired by the big corporations. Corporations rule the world - not countries. That is why our founding fathers had such a fear of the corporation - they were afraid that one day they would be powerful enough to run our gov't. Well I guess that time has arrived. The countless rules and regulations are made into law with "help" from the industry organizations. These industry groups are funded by who - the large corporations.

These regulations are disguised under "public safety", "saving the environment",etc - but the real deal behind the curtain is money. It always boils down to either money or power. The politicians want power and the large corporations want money. What a match made in heaven where we all (the little guys) pay the price.

Just look at the time and money it takes to just stay in compliance. It's tough on a small business. We don't have a personnel manager, compliance manager, safety manager, environmental manager, etc, etc, etc. But with the gov't rules that we have today and the ones they are proposing - what in the world are we as small business owners going to do, to just stay in compliance with all the red tape? You spend most of your time pouring through all the requirements, documentation and audits - instead of out in the field trying to make a living. And that position is exactly where the big corp's and politicians want us to be. The corporations are consumed with market share and earnings per share. The politicians are concerned about votes and staying in power. The small business man/woman is just standing in the way of the large corporations every increasing market share and are not enough of a political voice to be heard by the politicians.

Also it doesn't matter what political affiliation or corporation - they are all in bed together.

OK - enough gloom and doom. I currently am and still will be a small business owner. This is just my opinion on the current stage of things in the business/political arena. Now I will step off my :soapbox

Dwan Hall said:

Well we are at it. Everone knows that you need a first aid kit in a comerical truck, but what needs to be in that first aid kit to make it legal?

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I guess I'm behind with this one. I knew about the fire extinguisher and the triangles/flares but I didn't know about this. Where does it say about needing a first aid kit? (I actually have kits in my trucks that I put together, but didn't know it was required.)

BTW - I agree with your post, just hadn't heard this part before. I've read about employees needing to be tested, but what about an owner? Technically not an employee...:beatsme

I'am supposed to have a fire extinguisher in my F-450 haven't gotten around to getting one yet

I have the triangles they are behind the seat I haven't gotten a first aid kit yet but does electricians tape and paper towels count :laugh

The big thing with the DOT here is don't pizz them off let them look around do there thing then usually they let you go pretty easy. You provoke them then watch out the fines add up like a bad bar tab. After they put you through the ringer its holy crap

What the CND gov't is trying to do is take any blame off of them and put it on the truck operator.

These new regulations is suppose to make the gov't look good to the public saying they are making the "Trucking Industry Safer " by creating STUPID rules.

The biggest problem is the 4 wheelers that cause truck accidents but the people don't see that its TRUCKS are bad they cause the accidents.

I would love to see the whole trucking industry stop for a week and see what happens. Maybe the public will see that trucking makes the world go around. If you got it a truck delivered it.

Dwan Hall said:

Well we are at it. Everone knows that you need a first aid kit in a comerical truck, but what needs to be in that first aid kit to make it legal?

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Orchard Ex said:

I guess I'm behind with this one. I knew about the fire extinguisher and the triangles/flares but I didn't know about this. Where does it say about needing a first aid kit? (I actually have kits in my trucks that I put together, but didn't know it was required.)

BTW - I agree with your post, just hadn't heard this part before. I've read about employees needing to be tested, but what about an owner? Technically not an employee...:beatsme

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Unless it has just changed D.O.T. does not require first aid kits.

Around here a lot the larger aftermarket truck part supply houses will have air brake seminars for the purpose of certification.

If you drive a commercial vehicle your suppose to be part of a drug testing program,owner included.

I was told after reading this thread to a friend . That the local NAPA auto parts store teach's the DOT air brake class/regulations and will give you a certificate. He said he thought that the class was free also.

Napa does them, I got one back in 1990. The card is laminated but almost hard to read it's been in my wallet so long. Been soaked, submerged, dried, run over. NEVER once in my life have I had any authority figure ask to see it yet.

I've been doing complete brake jobs on class 8 vehicles since I was a little kid alongside guys until I was ready to do them on my own, at around 16 or so. The course was a farce too. The instructor passed around parts to us and said, "this is a brake shoe, this is an s-cam, this is a chamber, this is a brake drum...", No written test in that sitting, just collected $20.00 and I was a certified, bonified, qualified heavy duty air brake adjustment technician.

That was back in the day when automatic slack adjusters were still as far away from being used as Robert Fulton's steamboat was going to be the new rage on the river. It was all done with manually adjustable slacks then. Since the certification, I have yet to be recertified in auto-slacks, which is standard equipment today. There are several styles and configurations of the new auto slack, and had I not possessed some level of mechanical aptitude, I wouldn't have been able to figure out how they get adjusted at all. Point being, no one enforces the regulations closely enough (yet,) to make sure there is a newer version of this air brake adjustment certification to date.

A friend of mine had his brakes adjusted at a garage recently by one of these fancy certified, bonified, qualified air brake technical mechanics. Tractor trailer loaded with lumber. Paid the garage, jumped in and took off, went to stop at the end of the driveway on a state highway, and rolled across the highway unable to stop his truck until it came to rest against a dumpster. No one was coming or there wound have been a problem. Suffered a bent front bumper, at approximately $500.00 expense. Reason for incident: Bonified, certified, qualified air brake technical mechanic turned the adjusters the WRONG direction, making the brake shoes go away from the drum instead of closer. There you have it friends. This is what Big Brother has to offer. He's only here to HELP...One last thing.

About this first aid kit law you guys are talking about. First time I've heard of it. I can't see carrying one, because the way the law is nowadays, if I were to be a good samaritan and stop at a scene to help someone in need and actually get to use this kit, I'd stand a chance of getting a ticket for illegally parking on the highway, plus it would cut into my hours of service, on-duty time so I wouldn't be able to drive the full 11 hours, thus throwing my production off. If I were to extend the driving time to make up for my first aid service, I'd STILL be in violation of the HOS no matter what my excuse was.

Probably get another citation for "failure to be EMS certified while attending the scene of an accident", thus another fine. By the time I was done using this first aid kit, I'd be broke from the expenses incurred, and have to go buy some ibuprophen for my headache, and a roll of duct tape to wrap around my head to keep the top from blowing off from the stupidity I was surrounded by.

LowBoy said:

About this first aid kit law you guys are talking about. First time I've heard of it. I can't see carrying one, because the way the law is nowadays, if I were to be a good samaritan and stop at a scene to help someone in need and actually get to use this kit, I'd stand a chance of getting a ticket for illegally parking on the highway, plus it would cut into my hours of service, on-duty time so I wouldn't be able to drive the full 11 hours, thus throwing my production off. If I were to extend the driving time to make up for my first aid service, I'd STILL be in violation of the HOS no matter what my excuse was.

Probably get another citation for "failure to be EMS certified while attending the scene of an accident", thus another fine. By the time I was done using this first aid kit, I'd be broke from the expenses incurred, and have to go buy some ibuprophen for my headache, and a roll of duct tape to wrap around my head to keep the top from blowing off from the stupidity I was surrounded by.

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You forgot being sued for medical mal-practice by the poor soul whose life you helped save...

Orchard Ex said:

I guess I'm behind with this one. I knew about the fire extinguisher and the triangles/flares but I didn't know about this. Where does it say about needing a first aid kit? (I actually have kits in my trucks that I put together, but didn't know it was required.)

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In the "Republic of New Brunswick" a first aid kit is not required in a vehicle. Here is the link. Having said that we carry first aid kits in our vehicles as we are on project sites, and there the kits are required.

These are new regulations and we had to modifiy our first aid kits to be in compliance. Here is a link that lists old versus new and what is required in first aid kits.

Maybe this info is no good to you guy's in the US but I thought I would share.

First Aid kit is not required, however, on your fire extingushers, they must be secured, not just thrown under or behind the seat.

crash935 said:

First Aid kit is not required, however, on your fire extingushers, they must be secured, not just thrown under or behind the seat.

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This is a really good point. If you have your fire extinguisher thrown behind the seat, or just laying on the floor somewhere, then you are setting yourself up for a couple of problems.

1. If you have an accident such as a roll over etc. fire extinguishers hitting you on the head could prove to be fatal.

2. I've seen alot of extinguishers mounted (secured) on their side to the floor. Mounted this way eventually they could become ineffective as all the powder is laying on one side, and it could break off the tube inside. The guage would still show good but the extinguisher wouldn't work.

3. I've also seen them mounted behind the seat on the passenger side What good is that? They should be mounted upright and accessable to the driver. Take them out monthly and check them over. Tap the bottom to make sure the powder is moving freely and check the guage.

My 02 cents.

Grader4me Quote:
Originally Posted by crash935
First Aid kit is not required, however, on your fire extinguishers, they must be secured, not just thrown under or behind the seat.

This is a really good point. If you have your fire extinguisher thrown behind the seat, or just laying on the floor somewhere, then you are setting yourself up for a couple of problems.

1. If you have an accident such as a roll over etc. fire extinguishers hitting you on the head could prove to be fatal.

2. I've seen alot of extinguishers mounted (secured) on their side to the floor. Mounted this way eventually they could become ineffective as all the powder is laying on one side, and it could break off the tube inside. The guage would still show good but the extinguisher wouldn't work.

3. I've also seen them mounted behind the seat on the passenger side What good is that? They should be mounted upright and accessible to the driver. Take them out monthly and check them over. Tap the bottom to make sure the powder is moving freely and check the gauge.

These are excellent Pt's. and would like to add one more
fire extinguishers have to be mounted so the gauge can be read by driver-or at least they gave a ticket to friend stating that

Squizzy246B said:

You forgot being sued for medical mal-practice by the poor soul whose life you helped save...

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That too. Just my luck, I stop and help the poor soul out and they end up taking the eternal dirt nap anyways...and get a letter from Finklestein,Levine,Gittleson and Tetenbaum that I am responsible because I didn't have the proper contents in my first aid kit...I'm tellin' ya Squizz...it's a dog eat dog world out there, and I'm sportin' Milk Bone underwear.:Banghead :bouncegri

LowBoy said:

and have to go buy some ibuprophen for my headache

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This is sposed to be in the First Aid kit already.

When I went for my first aid ticket I said to the instructor I'am very squimish about seeing blood. He said well you won't see any here.

Countryboy said:

This is sposed to be in the First Aid kit already.

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I actually have a couple of halffull bottles kicking around in there already. I guess that'd make me an M.D. then in the DOT's eyes?:beatsme