Tips for Truck Drivers: CSA Compliant Roadside Inspections

By David Robson

Tips for Truck Drivers: CSA Compliant Roadside Inspections.

Rules and Regulations

There are no new rules as far as being in violation. The only thing that has changed is how your roadside inspection is recorded in the FMSCA [old Safe-stat now CSA"s Safety Measurement System (SMS) ]. No longer are you looked at when your company has an accident or O.O.S.(out of service) violation or a random audit. Now the carrier and driver roadside inspections are recorded at every inspection and updated every 30 days to evaluate a score (0-100) based on violation points given at roadside inspections as well as accidents and O.O.S. violations.

The value of these scores (1-100) is done by comparing you and your company with other drivers and companies of comparable characteristics. This will produce an average for the group you fall into and your scores are determined by comparing them with your group average.

THE SCORE CARD

Remember back in school your report card had your mark, then the class average and your parents always look at the class average and then your mark (score) to see how you compared to the rest of the kids in your class (group). If your class average was 80% and you got 50% there was some explaining to do.

Welcome back to school. The only difference is your working with a golf score, lower is better since the score is based on violations (negative). A clean roadside inspection helps because the number of roadside inspections are calculated as well. So if you have 50 roadside inspections and only 2 have violations that's 4%. If you only have 5 roadside inspections and 3 have violations that's 60% roadside infractions. Lower is better. The more perfect roadside inspections you get the lower it keeps your score and makes you look like driver of the year. So practice your putting so you will get a hole in one at every inspection. ( Be the Tiger Woods of trucking, so to speak)..



Roadside Inspection Tips

Brakes

Remember that pre-trip inspection we all slept through at the last driver's meeting? Well wake up and learn it. Equipment violations carry a high severity number next to logbooks. Especially brakes. If you have a dedicated tractor you can probably get away with mark and measure once a week.

Every time you hook on to new equipment you should do a six pack on the brakes and then mark and measure. Write down the measurements and keep them handy for an inspector to prove you did check them should one of the automatic slack adjusters stopped working. If you have disc brakes you don't need to measure them because the push-rod is not visible or accessible.

Lights

Carry spare lights with you. Lights can usually be changed quickly providing they are accessible. Headlights, brake lights and turn signals carry a high severity point system as they are necessary for the safety of other motorists. I once had a side marker light go out and it cost me $65.00 to get it fixed. The light was only $5.00.

Load Security

Review your FMSCA violations in this area to become familiar with the requirements. http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?reg=392.9

Did you know that if your binder(flatbed) handle is not tied you have an insecure load? If your folded up tarp is on your deck and not strapped you have an insecure load? A mud flap hanging by one bolt can be an insecure load because it is missing over 50% of its fasteners. If you are new to load securement get together with your safety department or an experienced senior driver.

Logbooks

You knew this was coming didn't you? Logbooks are going to the bulk of driver infractions and has been since it was introduced. For some reason we all can't keep them up to date within the last change of duty status.

Over hours and falsification carry the highest severity weight. When your at a state inspection your logbook inspection can be more than just lines on a graph to a D.O.T. inspector.

Vehicle Inspection

* - if you show a defect and it was corrected he will ask for a part or service receipt.
* - he will also target the repaired item for inspection to make sure it is fixed.
* - he will also look at your inspection times to be sure your inspection were within 24 hour intervals.

Time over Distance

* - it doesn't take a mathematician to figure out your average trip speed.
* - speeding fines can be issued if your average trip speed is to high or can become a falsification of logs.
* - split sleeper and differed time off (Canadaians) are going to be looked at since those are the most misunderstood logbook regulations.
* - clarity and neatness, if he can't read it it will become an incomplete logbook violation.
* - signature is required on every sheet to be a complete logbook.

Receipts

* - the officer will ask you for receipts from the current trip, this also includes bills of lading and lumper fees.
* - if you have traveled over 900 miles ( 300 gallons @ 6 mpg ) the officer is going to ask for fuel receipt.
* - he may ask for toll receipts and if he knows that the toll roads you took have no transponder, you best present receipts.
* - if you crossed international borders or were D.O.T. inspected along the way it better be logged in your book as they have ways to get that information on the spot.

Attitude

Attitude will play an important role in your roadside inspection.

* - do not argue with an officer, if you disagree with the roadside inspection notify your dispatch for instructions.
* - comply with the officers request to surrender documents, even if you know they are not compliant.
* - keep a clean and organized unit, this is a visible target criteria for inspection even with the best of carriers.
* - be polite, he is only doing his job.

Education

Do your best by visiting government websites to educate yourself on the industry as it related to your profession. Driving schools are not suited to educate you on the whole industry because it is so varied it would take them a whole year to cover it all. Trucking companies are supposed to bring you up to speed with the specifics related to their objectives but fail to because they claim it is to expensive.

Driver Education Links

U.S. Regulations CSA

I hope this helped you to understand the CSA a little bit better so you know what to expect when you are pulled into a scale.

Until next time. Be Safe.

David Robson
Professional Truck Driver,
Certified Fleet Driver Trainer


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