it's okay, I saw the mother ship come and pick up this d.o.t. guy, he wont be bothering anymore earthlings. funny thing is, the leader made him do a pretrip on the saucer without using a checksheet.

 

I would be able to "go through the motions" of a pre-trip in 15 mins., as long as nothing needed to be corrected.

In reality, I could not do a thorough pre-trip in that amount of time, though. Do bear in mind that when it came to checking tire pressure, I was never contented to use a thumper; I always used a pressure guage.

 

I fail to see how that DOT inspector could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the driver didn't perform a satisfactory p/t. Or, that the truck was not in a safe operating condition from 7 previous days.
All my dealings with DOT, have been very polite, and courteous.

 

Agree 100%!!

In any event, I always logged a 30min. pre-trip, and with very few exceptions, I would fuel up either before I began driving, or before I shut down.

I never had any trouble with DOT either. My experience was that the DOT guys met you with whatever attitude you brought to them!!

 

It seems to me...and I am relatively new to this...that your presentation at the scales...e.g. clean dash, seat belt on, passenger window down to hear...etc...bears a bit as to how the scalemasters treat you. If you look as if you know what you're doing, and present the profession well, chances are you will not be accosted.

However...there are those scales that do not abide by rationalism. It's all HOLLYWOOD....ya got to make them believe....

 

Palidian,
I don't think this is a true story, sorry. But there are jerks in every field of work, so who knows. But if this really happened and happens again ask the officer to show you what regulation entitles him to make you do a pre-trip in a certain amount of time. There is none and this guy was either ignorant or a power tripper. You can do a pre-trip in less than 15 minutes on most rigs imho. All the regs state is:

Pretrip Inspections §392.7, 396.13

Although the primary requirements for inspections are in Part 396, the first such driver requirement is in §392.7 which charges the driver to "satisfy himself/herself" that basic parts and accessories are "in good working condition" prior to driving the vehicle. Although not required to be in writing, this pre–driving determination shall include the following parts and accessories:

1. Service brakes, including trailer brake connections

2. Parking (hand) brakes

3. Steering mechanism

4. Lighting devices and reflectors

5. Tires

6. Horn

7. Windshield wiper or wipers

8. Rear–vision mirror or mirrors

9. Coupling devices

§392.8 requires a driver to "satisfy himself/herself" that the required emergency equipment (§393.95) is in place and ready for use. This includes:

1. Fire extinguishers

2. Spare fuses

3. Warning devices

The final pre–driving requirement is in §396.13, requiring a driver to review the last vehicle inspection report (§396.11) and sign it when defects or deficiencies were reported.

You should be easily able to do this in 10 minutes or less. BTW I am new here, I am the ENEMY guys! Alaska Commercial Vehicle Enforcement. Nice forum here and some very knowledgeable people also. I will soon be moving to the truck driving world so I thought I would join a forum and see what the other side has to say about trucking life. But again for the moment, I am the enemy, muuhhhaaaaa. See ya on the road soon.

 

Well, cool! 8) I suppose all that experience on the other side of the scale will come in handy when the time comes

The scalemaster on I-71 near the 50 yard sticker in Ohio has screamed to differ. He is determined to tell every truck driver that the scales cannot turn off the Pre-Pass system ... But then again, this was right after a truck plowed into the pre-pass input/output antenna a mile north of the scale in turn making the Pre-Pass there completely off-line; he could be making excuses for a convenient accident.

 

It really will help Hat. I was going to drive once I retired from the Military, but did not have the experience. I would have been hostling for about a year and no way I could afford that. But getting this job first was the better outcome. I got paid to learn the rules. Now when I get on the road it will be much easier. A lot of drivers have to learn some of the rules the hard way. I am really looking forward to driving again. Being a scalemaster is too boring.

 

In all the years I have been doing this.... I have heard more "BS" about Banning than anywhere else on the planet. Yet, for all the times I crossed Banning....I never once got inspected, nor have my logbook looked at.

I know drivers who have been inspected there....and had no complaints about the inspections.

I vote for the initial post to be classified as a TRUCKER'S STORY!!

The original poster should edit it and insert the following verbage to the beginning of the first sentence: NO @#&* MAN, THIS IS THE TRUTH!!!!

 

Actually Sir, you are not the "enemy". I for one am happy to see you participating here!! It is your knowledge and experience when shared with many of the potential drivers who will visit this site...that will help produce better, wiser, and "safer" drivers who will properly comply with the FMCSR's.

I hope you join us often and share your knowledge!! It would certainly be good to have some one around here like you!! Welcome!!!