Roadcheck 2010

[bobwg]

Well its time for the yearly nationwide DOT Roadcheck this years official dates are June 8 thru June 10. Some states could start earlier and some could go longer than 72 hours. Alert! with the current economy 1 or more states could decide to go after anything and everything that looks like a commercial vehicle even cargo vans hope everyone is ready

 

[jelliott]

More important than ever with CSA 2010 coming!

 

[ATeam]

I've never understood all the ink that is spilled and bandwidth spent on these annual Roadcheck events. Every day is a Roadheck day as far as Diane and I are concerned. If you keep your truck in compliance, Roadcheck 2010 is just another couple of days on the road.

 

[greg334]

Phil,
We don't live in a perfect world and a lot of drivers out there can't read a dipstick let alone know when something is wrong to get fixed. Many of these are just successful steering
wheel holders who just want to make the big bucks.

This sometimes takes the place of those great perfect 'qualified' shop inspections that so often produce OSS citations.

 

[Turtle]

It's just more fun for some people to live in a perpetual "freaked out" state. It's almost as much fun as trying to freak out others, like telling people absurd things like "1 or more states could decide to go after anything and everything that looks like a commercial vehicle even cargo vans". OMG OMG OMG! I'm freakin' out!

 

[moose]

This sometimes takes the place of those great perfect 'qualified' shop inspections that so often produce OSS citations.

had my annual DoT inspection done at the AlbertLea TA ,a few weeks ago .
What a joke !
they doctorV's most of the items .

 

[jelliott]

Words of wisdom, double and triple check your vehicles! With CSA coming it is time well spent. We started running every vehicle through an inspection lane yesterday. It was amazing what we found on very well maintained vehicles. We found a number of "newer" cracked brake shoes, some brakes out of adjustment, and even a cracked spring. As good as you may assume your vehicle is, give it one more go over.

 

[moose]

, and even a cracked spring...

glooobal warming brings summer early this year...

TA offer free '2 axle push rod stroke inspection' .
valid may 1st thru June 11

 

[shadow7663]

Words of wisdom, double and triple check your vehicles! With CSA coming it is time well spent. We started running every vehicle through an inspection lane yesterday. It was amazing what we found on very well maintained vehicles. We found a number of "newer" cracked brake shoes, some brakes out of adjustment, and even a cracked spring. As good as you may assume your vehicle is, give it one more go over.

During my pre-trip this morning I found a very small hairline crack on the front brake shoe. These shoes had roughly 80% life left in them. Not taking any chances here! I had them replaced today and 4 new tires installed on the drive axle! Tread was still good but a little dry rot where they recap them. Again better off to just change them and not take a chance on a blow out or ticket!

Another thing to look for is your u-bolts holding the box to the frame. I check mine everyday. Thursday all ok Friday I found one loose.

 

[Dakota]

During my pre-trip this morning I found a very small hairline crack on the front brake shoe. These shoes had roughly 80% life left in them. Not taking any chances here! I had them replaced today and 4 new tires installed on the drive axle! Tread was still good but a little dry rot where they recap them. Again better off to just change them and not take a chance on a blow out or ticket!

Another thing to look for is your u-bolts holding the box to the frame. I check mine everyday. Thursday all ok Friday I found one loose.

I have found the u-bolts loose on the boxes on various trucks I have driven. Just think about all the flexing and vibration those bolts have to put up with.
I drive an under CDL straight truck with air brakes which in Indiana requires only a Chauffeurs license. How would you be able to see brake shoes if they are inside the drum? I am not sure what a proper pre-trip is I check my mirrors, lights, tires, make sure everything is where it needs to be and at every fill up check all the fluids under the hood.

 

[moose]

I am not sure what a proper pre-trip is .

If there's money in the bank - your vehicle is unsafe...

 

[Number28]

Another day to avoid the scales. Any scale not crossed is a good one in my book.

 

[shadow7663]

If there's money in the bank - your vehicle is unsafe...

LOL SO TRUE!

Checking your brakes requires laying on the ground and getting a bit dirty. The sides of the brake shoes are visable. Just take a rag and wipe the road grime away and have a GOOD look.

Remember the dot will be checking very good so when you check your vehicle you have to really look hard and want to find something wrong. Its better you find it and take care of it than to get put out of service while under a load, have the fines and have to call a mobile mechanic. A 250.00 repair bill can become 800-1000k real quick. It's just not worth the risk.

 

[guido4475]

I dont mean to sound holier than thou, or step on a few toes,but I think csa 2010 and this nationwide road check is a reason to get our vehicles in shape, they should of already been in shape for this on a daily basis, instead of waiting for this special event to take place.

 

[bobwg]

Yes that is a good point but you the driver should be ready also those that have to do log books make sure there are no mistakes and correct status at all times , if you have a cdl do you have your Dot medical card and long form available with out having to go searching for it in your truck and are you mentally prepared, from my own experience some 20 years out here dealing with Dot and Cops , you can give them grief ,etc and dig your self into more problems or just go with the flow with a good attitude and alot of times get a break from them

 

[jelliott]

I dont mean to sound holier than thou, or step on a few toes,but I think csa 2010 and this nationwide road check is a reason to get our vehicles in shape, they should of already been in shape for this on a daily basis, instead of waiting for this special event to take place.

I agree, but don't take things for granted. You would not be too concerned about brakes that were less than 6 months old, yet we found 3 sets with some cracking. Better safe than sorry! You know what happens when people assume.

 

[Dakota]

If there's money in the bank - your vehicle is unsafe...

Actually every PM at Penske is the same as the yearly inspection. Which means I have my inspections done every three months. Penske will pay the fine if something is wrong with their truck and I have spoke to various DOT officers and they have told me they rarely find anything major wrong with a Penske owned truck, just minor thing like tail lights etc.
Last inspection at a way station I got written up for a missing license plate, because on my truck it was mounted below the liftgate, it was the third plate I had lost. Now the plate is mounted on the roll up door...problem solved

 

[Dakota]

Yes that is a good point but you the driver should be ready also those that have to do log books make sure there are no mistakes and correct status at all times , if you have a cdl do you have your Dot medical card and long form available with out having to go searching for it in your truck and are you mentally prepared, from my own experience some 20 years out here dealing with Dot and Cops , you can give them grief ,etc and dig your self into more problems or just go with the flow with a good attitude and alot of times get a break from them

I have an expandible file with all my info, Dot medical card, long form, insurance, truck lease, regisistration. Seems to be common to get stopped at the weigh stations for me so now I grab my file and go in and everything is there.
I always wonder why I am targeted, since I never was pulled over when I was a company driver. Possibly could do with the owner operator decals on my door or maybe I was just lucky in the past

 

[nightcreacher]

if you have pre- pass,and your getting pulled in often,its your companies safety record

 

[greg334]

if you have pre- pass,and your getting pulled in often,its your companies safety record

Not all the time, got pulled into the scales and stopped to just check my BoL and I asked why. He said it is just practice, he looked at my Prepass thing and said sometimes Prepass doesn't matter. I have hit five scales on my way down here and only once I could bypass it with Prepass, all the other times everyone got pulled in.