DIY annual Vehicle inspection

As long as you meet the requirements to be an inspector, it is perfectly legal. If you do not meet those requirements, though, an audit is going to determine that you haven't had the inspections done as required.

 

It's A LOT Cheaper to have the TA/Petro ($50-$75) to do it this way if GOD forbid you have a bad wreck you are not hung by your ears due to this or that DOT Crap Rule Learn the blame game before you go on trucking

 

Yea I've slapped one on mine before and it seemed to never be questioned. DOT might ask for a receipt, I have had that happen too. But yea, you can fill it out your self and it does seem to work with DOT. There is a copy that goes with it that shows where the inspection was done. You would have to make something up for that part.

And just so everyone doesn't think that I'm driving something dangerous, I use to do DOT inspections for a very large fleet, and did the repairs too

 

My rig was 100% perfect one year when I took it to have it inspected. Guess what, they drilled a hole in the back of the tractor to install a license plate light, and charged me $100.00. What a bunch of crap.

 

And what are those requirements? Do you know?

 

§ 396.17 Periodic inspection.

(d) A motor carrier may perform the required annual inspection for vehicles under the carrier's control which are not subject to an inspection under §396.23(b)(1).

(e) In lieu of the self-inspection provided for in paragraph (d) of this section, a motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider responsible for the inspection may choose to have a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, truck stop, or other similar commercial business perform the inspection as its agent, provided that business operates and maintains facilities appropriate for commercial vehicle inspections and it employs qualified inspectors, as required by §396.19.

(f) Vehicles passing roadside or periodic inspections performed under the auspices of any State government or equivalent jurisdiction or the FMCSA, meeting the minimum standards contained in appendix G of this subchapter, will be considered to have met the requirements of an annual inspection for a period of 12 months commencing from the last day of the month in which the inspection was performed. If a vehicle is subject to a mandatory State inspection program, as provided in § 396.23(b)(1), a roadside inspection may only be considered equivalent if it complies with the requirements of that program.

(h) Failure to perform properly the annual inspection required by this section shall cause the motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider to be subject to the penalty provisions of 49 U.S.C. 521(b).




§ 396.19 Inspector qualifications.

(a) Motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers must ensure that individuals performing annual inspections under § 396.17(d) or (e) are qualified as follows:

(1) Understand the inspection criteria set forth in part 393 and appendix G of this subchapter and can identify defective components;

(2) Are knowledgeable of and have mastered the methods, procedures, tools and equipment used when performing an inspection; and

(3) Are capable of performing an inspection by reason of experience, training, or both as follows:
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(i) Successfully completed a Federal-or State-sponsored training program or have a certificate from a State or Canadian Province that qualifies the individuals to perform commercial motor vehicle safety inspections, or

(ii) Have a combination of training or experience totaling at least 1 year. Such training or experience may consist of:
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(A) Participation in a commercial motor vehicle manufacturer-sponsored training program or similar commercial training program designed to train students in commercial motor vehicle operation and maintenance;

(B) Experience as a mechanic or inspector in a motor carrier or intermodal equipment maintenance program;

(C) Experience as a mechanic or inspector in commercial motor vehicle maintenance at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, or similar facility; or

(D) Experience as a commercial motor vehicle inspector for a State, Provincial or Federal government.
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(b) Motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers must retain evidence of that individual's qualifications under this section. They must retain this evidence for the period during which that individual is performing annual motor vehicle inspections for the motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider, and for one year thereafter. However, motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers do not have to maintain documentation of inspector qualifications for those inspections performed either as part of a State periodic inspection program or at the roadside as part of a random roadside inspection program.

 

So, as a motor carrier I'm legal to just do it myself but an o/o leased to someone else is not. I did it for many years and NO ONE ever even cared. Never had anybody even look at the little sticker except a glance to see if it was current model year. When they first came up with the bright idea I actually paid a guy to do it and realized he was no more qualified than me except he owned a few trucks and had a small shop where he worked on them. From then on I just took care of it myself and for years no inspector ever even noticed if I had it or not.
If an owner operator works on his own truck it looks as if he might be qualified under the regulation by experience. Probably more than some guy at the truck stop for that matter.

 

So since I've worked at a shop for over 2 yrs and took a mechanics course I'm qualified?