The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) trains the CHP officers who conduct roadside inspections at the Truckee Weigh Station on route I-80 on the Donner Pass use a “cheat sheet” while inspecting your truck.
You could find the same information in Section 11, Vehicle Inspection Test of the CA DMV Commercial Drivers Handbook, but this will provide a quick overview of that information.
Most of these violations can be found and corrected during a thorough Daily Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR).
Brakes & Adjustments
Here are a few components to check for:
- Missing, loose, non-working, cracked or contaminated parts.
- The S-Cam flip-over.
- Air leaks in the lines and components.
- Slack adjusters are the same size and length.
- The air pressure is maintained at approximately 90 to 100 psi.
- Check for non-manufacturer holes, i.e., rust erosion or holes made by friction or rubbing.
- Broken springs.
- Pushrod travel.
- Malfunctioning low-pressure warning or ABS lamps not working.
- Check the bleed-back and the breakaway systems for the trailer.
CVSA inspectors report that 13% of out-of-service (OOS) orders during roadside inspections are due to faulty brakes.
Lamps & Reflectors
During the drivers’ daily inspection, they should check for dirt-covered lamps and reflectors, replace non-working lamps, and ensure they are the right color and operational.
“Light and reflectors make up more than one-quarter (twenty-eight percent) of roadside inspection violations. Light violations are six CSA points, and reflectors or reflective tape are three each.” — The CVSA.
Therefore, you can likely avoid many of these violations when you conduct a thorough DVIR before moving your truck.
Tire Treads, Hubs, Wheels, Rims, & Lug Nuts
Although it is vital for fuel efficiency to rotate all tires after 5,000 to 7,500 miles, other necessary safety checks should be done daily:
- Check for sufficient tire pressure, bulges, bubbles, cuts, tread wear, and depth.
- Inspect for exposed fabric, improper repair, vehicle contact, or gouges.
- Check wheels and rims for missing or broken lugs, cracks in rims, locking rings that are not seated, and slippage in the clamp area.
- Check hubs for leaks, missing plugs or caps, and missing or worn parts.
Roadside inspection violations for tires make up 11% of CVSA violations and 50% of those are due to thin treads. Remember, driver tires must have 2/16th of an inch tread and all others 1/16th of an inch — that’s really thin!
Steering
Check the steering wheel for telescoping, ensure that it is secure, and the tilt function locks in place. Ensure for excessive movement, loose fasteners, and unsecured mountings. Check the steering lash according to the manual.
Suspension
Check that suspension for misalignment, missing or cracked springs, missing bolts, loose shackles, loose or cracked U-bolts, non-secured spring hangers, and check axles for obvious misalignments, cracks, or welds.
NOTE: This is the time of year when rolling through the Donner Pass in CA, you should ensure you have your truck’s tire chains.
When you have questionable roadside inspection violations or traffic tickets, discuss it with a CA traffic attorney.
Contact Bigger & Harman, APC, for a Free Consultation by Phone or Email
When you have been cited for a traffic ticket, overweight truck, or roadside inspection violation that requires resolution in Truckee Courthouse in Truckee, CA, contact Bigger & Harman.
Call Bigger & Harman, APC, at (661) 349-9300 — use our contact form and send an image of the ticket/violation or email attorney@biggerharmanlaw.com.
Se habla Español (661) 349-9755.
Download our e-book, Protecting Your Commercial Driver License.
References:
The DMV Portal CA Commercial Driver Handbook.
Section 11, Vehicle Inspection Test of the CA DMV Commercial Drivers Handbook.
The CVSA North American Standard Vehicle Inspection Cheat Sheet.