Got DOT inspected twice in one day. Have some concerns.

Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by Aditransport, Feb 9, 2013.

  1. Aditransport

    Aditransport Light Load Member

    111
    21
    May 19, 2012
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    So I'm driving down highway 191 in Wyoming from Jackson towards Rock Springs. There is WHP car on my side of the road on the shoulder. I have my cruise set at 68, speed limit is 65. I pass him and notice that he starts coming after me. He gets behind me and turns on the lights. I'm thinking, what the hell does he want? So I pull over in the scale, he comes up to me and says, " I clocked you at 68 in a 65. I'm not going to cite you, but I am going to perform a class 3 inspection." Ok. No problem. I'm all good. He does his thing, I pass and he gives me this blue ticket looking thing for the speed and because I didn't draw my line in my log book up from On duty to Driving. I said great this will go on my CSA. He said it's not on the inspection report so it won't. I say ok thanks and head down the road. I get to Laramie, get some fuel, go on my way to head on 287 south towards Fort Collins. Go in to the scale, go inside with my paper work and now they want to perform a level 1 on me. Boy, this is my lucky day. I give them everything they want, they look it over and they inform me that I'm not supposed to have more than 13 days of original log pages with me. I'm supposed to mail them to my carrier. Well, I am the carrier, I'm an owner operator. He says there is nothing in the regs that say it excludes owner operators. Then we get to the truck inspection. Everything passes except for some tires on the trailer. He says that since the tires have a few bald spots they are in violation. I cited the regs from the CSA book and it states that they are not to be measured at the wear bars, humps or fillets. I explained to him that those bald spots are considered the fillets (correct me if I'm wrong), we go back and forth and bottom line is he dings me for 3 tires in violation and the log book deal.

    Am I wrong in my definition of the fillets? If the majority of the tire is fine except for a bald spot or 2 is that tire in violation? I plan to do a Data Q on this. Thanks. And what about that log book pages deal? I can't seem to add pictures to this post. I use a Mac, does anyone know how to upload pics from a Mac?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Driver of the year

    Driver of the year Medium Load Member

    442
    249
    Sep 28, 2012
    Tampa FL
    0
    Thats why i go around scales and through the back roads. I know what every Driver feels when thwy see Weigh Station 1 Mile Ahead! The tires? if the other officer dint find a problem, why the dot did? Dont know about the bald tires.
     
  4. Aditransport

    Aditransport Light Load Member

    111
    21
    May 19, 2012
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0
    Tires aren't bald. They just have a couple of spots on them that are worn down. I wish I could post some pics.
     
  5. sdaniel

    sdaniel Road Train Member

    5,511
    4,420
    Sep 7, 2011
    Pelham N.C.
    0
    Those low spots are where the tire will fabric first. I my exp any low spot in a main tread groove is down to 2 /32 s it is time to come off. Some tires have a rock groove on the very edge , that is not main groove . That can go till we see blistering . At that point , next is cords.
    If we error on the side of caution , we will always be correct.
     
  6. wis bang

    wis bang Road Train Member

    3,348
    3,917
    Jan 12, 2011
    Levittown, PA
    0
    Tires are big points on the CSA score.
     
  7. QBall3577

    QBall3577 Medium Load Member

    476
    278
    Nov 24, 2008
    Fort Worth, TX
    0
    Thats the problem with the CSA system... as with much of our criminal and civil legal systems as well... it's all subjective. I'd get one of those tread depth measurement thingies and make sure you still have enough tread in those spots... take pictures.. and submit them with your data-q as evidence. Chances are because we don't have true due process in this industry it'll be denied.. but it's worth a shot if you've got proper evidence.
     
  8. dibstr

    dibstr Road Train Member

    1,308
    931
    Sep 10, 2010
    Mississippi
    0
    Fillets are a design element of a tire, you seem to be describing worn flat spots. If a tire is worn below the minimum allowed because of just one flat spot and the rest of the tire is good, its a violation.






    Yep, you have to forward the original logs within 13 days. If you are an owner-op, this means they need to be forwarded to either your business at your business address or to the carrier whose authority you are running under.

    Best regards
     
    VisionLogistics Thanks this.
  9. heavyhaulerss

    heavyhaulerss Road Train Member

    3,723
    2,040
    Dec 23, 2009
    AL/TN BORDER
    0
    I have a couple of wear down spots on my spread where I slid tires when empty or just by turning loaded. but the rest of the tire is still 60-70 % I hope when I stop for insp the flat spots are on bottom.
     
    volvodriver01 Thanks this.
  10. Aditransport

    Aditransport Light Load Member

    111
    21
    May 19, 2012
    Colorado Springs, CO
    0

    So if any part of the tread is below 2/32nds that tire is a violation? Well that's just great. That same day I had an injector go out, thankfully it was after the inspection. That cost me $2000. I don't have the money to spend on 3 tires now as well. I guess I'll be going out of business now. Anyone want to buy a 2006 Columbia with 3 new injectors?:biggrin_25513:
     
  11. windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

    7,296
    6,031
    Sep 2, 2011
    NEPA
    0
    The first inspection, he was wrong. Challenge the citation:

    As for the tires, submit a Data-Q for the violation with your supporting documentation.

    edit: Never show an inspector more than 7 days of log pages, nor have them visible in the truck. If you give an inspector more than 7 days of log pages, then they can inspect all of them. All they can legally ask for is 7 days.

    Also, never argue with the inspector. Never.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.