Tips for Passing Your Next DOT Inspection
The CVSA Roadcheck is coming up, so make sure you and your rig are prepared to pass inspection.
The CVSA Roadcheck is coming up this May, so it’s time to start making sure you’re ready for your next DOT inspection. While this year’s roadcheck is focused on wheel ends, that’s not all they’ll be checking. Make sure your rig is properly maintained and all of your documents are up-to-date and organized before you get pulled over for your next DOT inspection.
Truck Maintenance
It should go without saying that one of the most important aspects of being safe on the road is preventive vehicle maintenance. Keep your rig well-maintained so it can keep you safe while not being a threat to anyone else on the road.
For that reason, a DOT inspection will almost always be giving your vehicle a once-over to make sure everything is in working order. Don’t skip over maintenance of systems at risk just because they haven’t failed yet. Present the officer a vehicle that is well-maintained beyond the bare minimum and you’ll breeze through the inspection while assuring the safety of many.
Orderly Documentation
Take a few minutes to get all of your relevant documentation in order before you’re subject to an inspection. Make sure you have your commercial driver’s license, logbook, medical certificate, and medical card or waiver at the very least. These are checked in the most common inspection type, the level 1. Make sure to keep all important documents sorted and in a folder. Your inspector will appreciate this, and it will make it easy for them to check relevant documents, getting you back on the road faster.
Be Congenial
Nobody enjoys getting pulled over on the road, but DOT inspections are a necessary evil for commercial drivers. Your inspector understands that this is an inconvenience and an interruption to your schedule. That said, you should refrain from being abrasive and treating your inspector as if they’re a nuisance. If you want to get back on the road faster, you can keep your DOT inspection efficient by being friendly and responding to requests.
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