Roadcheck 2010

[highway star]

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.

Aren't these the very people we want to see checked out during this annual event?

I'm with Phil on this, no big whoop. I have no reason to think that an inspection this week will be any different than the 4 that I've had in the last 4 months. I'll have my ducks in a row and I'll pass. For a good laugh, it'll probably be a good time to listen to the conversation taking place in the truck stop TV room this week.

 

[nightcreacher]

You should not worry anymore about this inspection than any other.I understand that most of you aren't mechanics,and when you do your pre trips,you could overlook something,but just remember,brake adjustments,lights and logs,this is what they are looking at.

 

[jelliott]

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

One problem solved, another one created. The plate is supposed to have a working light on it. We had a unit get a ticket for the same "solution".

I agree some people make too much of the road check, but it is better to error on the side of caution. Too many people take vehicles for granted. We do a complete (equal to FMCSA) inspection on every company truck and trailer in our fleet every quarter. Guess what, things still go out of compliance in between. With that being said, having equipment washed and having a good appearance sets the tone of the inspection right out the gate. As well, a professional and positive attitude can also make a big difference. Showing the officer the same respect you would want shown to you normally makes a BIG difference in the inspection outcome.

Also, even if you have a rental unit and the company (Penske, Ryder etc) pays the ticket it still reflects on your CSA score as a driver and on the carriers CSA score. These points are far more "expensive" in the long run than the fine. If you fight a ticket and get it dismissed, that does not automatically remove the bad inspection from your CSA record. You have to then submit the info to the FMCSA to try and remove the inspection off of your record. The days of turning a speeding ticket into a seat belt ticket are not going to work. On CSA points are points.

 

[nightcreacher]

I was under a haz load once,had a scale find a flat tire,but what saved my butt,my log showed that 1/2 hour earlier I had done a tire check,so it was determined that the tire had just blown out.
got no ticket,and had tire fixed at scale.