Well yesterday I finally got my first inspection in about two years of driving. I was kind of surprised because as I was rolling through the scale I was just about over the scale and I see this guy in my rear view mirror wanting me to pull around behind the scale. Also I was pulling around my companies oldest truck and trailer combination. I haul fuel products and at the time I was going to an airport to deliver Av Gas. He went over my paperwork and tractor/trailer combination very thoroughly. I guess you get more attention when you are hauling dangerous goods loads.

The whole inspection took about 45 minutes. When I was inspected down in the states they had bays you went into and the inspection was done in about 15mins. Here at the scale, a major scale in this area as well, they don't have bays they just have guys in SUV's that have equipment for doing truck inspections. The inspections take place in this big open area. If it's raining they don't do inspections. I think it's a bit of a hookie set up being that they should be doing their job in rain or shine.

Overall the guy was really nice, he joked around with me a lot and I with him. My point is if you are a professional, they will respect that professional most of the time. I cannot emphasis that enough, be a professional and not some hill billy big rig trucker.

 

A full inspection, level one, here in the states takes between 45 minutes and an hour. This is where they inspect the truck, paperwork, logs, DL, etc.

You are correct though. Act like a pro and you will generally be treated like a pro. More than once I have seen idiots talk themselves into some big fines.

 

Another tip is to keep both yourself and your truck clean....its the dirty looking drivers and trucks they get the most.....I haven't been fully inspected since 2000.

 

There are a lot of places down here in the lower 48 where the inspections are done out in the open. In fact most of the states don't have barns.

Personally....I have never had a problem during an inspection and I think that it has a lot to do with the fact that I keep my decorum as polite and professional as I can....and I don't even respond to "cute questions" with anything other than a sincere and polite answer.

Only had one inspector get "cute"....and once he found out I wasn't the type to react...his whole demeanor changed and the inspection was actually educational.... I asked him questions and he gave me a lot of information, and slapped a pair of stickers on my rig....that was in Montana in one of their road side pull off areas. 8)

 

one time a dot man told me he thought my truck had been wrecked because of all the "new chrome" on the front. I told him it wasnt new, just very well taken care of, he said, well I'm just gonna do a walk around, it's obvious that your truck is in good shape..

 

Well you see my company takes very good care of our equipment. We have guys working 7 days a week where there whole job is to wash the truck and trailer(s). It has paid off so far as we don't have many inspections done on us. They were surprised to see me actually get inspected. We also have a mechanic who looks after these trucks and gets things fixed when need be. If your company takes care of your trucks and trailers most inspections shouldn't be a problem.

 

we have one wash guy who lives in his motor home behind our shop..

 

talk about commitment :lol:

 

I think it's more about free rent but it sure is convenient