Inspecting Before and During Trips

The Importance and Timing of Vehicle Inspections

Safety for yourself and for other road users is the most important reason to inspect your vehicle. A commercial motor vehicle is a massive machine operating at highway speeds, and mechanical failures can lead to severe consequences. A vehicle defect found during an inspection can prevent costly roadside breakdowns or crashes. Beyond personal responsibility, both federal and state laws require drivers to inspect their vehicles, and federal and state laws strictly forbid operating an unsafe vehicle. During your work, federal and state inspectors may inspect your vehicle and put it out of service if it is judged unsafe.

Developing a consistent inspection routine is critical for commercial drivers. Inspecting the vehicle the same way each time helps you learn the steps and makes you less likely to forget something. Professional vehicle inspections are not limited to a single walk-around before you leave the terminal. Instead, thorough inspection practices continue across three distinct phases: the pre-trip inspection before driving, periodic en-route checks conducted whenever you stop during a trip, and an after-trip inspection completed at the end of each trip, day, or tour of duty on every vehicle operated.

Documentation plays a key role in regulatory compliance and fleet safety communication. You should inspect each vehicle you operated at the end of the trip, day, or tour of duty; you may have to make a written vehicle condition report. Drivers should keep a copy of the vehicle inspection report in the vehicle for one day so the next driver knows of any reported problems. When taking over a vehicle, a driver must sign the previous inspection report only if defects were noted and certified to be repaired or deemed unnecessary to repair. Note that while core safety rules are standardized, CDL test length, passing score, and some administrative rules vary by state, so always verify your local licensing requirements.