Dot Little Know Facts You Might Not Know.....

Thank god I don't have to worry about testing on pre trip. Doubtful I would pass if I had to call out every single item and say what I am checking for.

Though I can look look at an engine compartment and mentally scan everything under the hood and tell if somethings wrong in about 10 seconds not including checking the fluids. Pre trips become 2nd nature because we do them everyday or at least your supposed to. Literally once you get out on the road a visual pre trip (which is almost always the norm) will take you about 3 minutes. Just don't log it at 3 minutes.

A few things that schools and companies don't teach you and you only find out when it becomes an issue of repairing it.....

Here is a question AND answer for anyone that might have been curious......Everyone know that there are 2 midship (the light at the bottom in the middle of the trailer) lights that have a dual purpose. One purpose is a running light or marker light that stays on when the lights are turned on. And the other purpose is for turn signals.....

When is it OK for these 2 lights to be only marker lights and not flash when a turn signal is on?.......

Answer......When you have a separate turn signals also on the same side. Meaning on most Werner trailers we have a big turn signal on the passenger side up near the landing gear and therefore the mid ship light on the trailer does not flash cause there is no need to.

OK another one.....we all know it's never ok to have broken or missing equipment on a truck or trailer but....

When is it OK to have missing or no mud flaps on the tractor only? Well to answer this one you have to remember that separately the tractor and trailer are two pieces of equipment but once you attach (hookup) the tractor and trailer legally they become one piece of equipment...........

Answer....it's only ok to have missing or no mud flaps on a tractor ONLY if you have a trailer attached to the tractor. I don't remember the exact wording but to summarize the law......you have to have mudflaps on the rear most trailing tires. In this case it would be the trailer.

I thought that sounded funny so I asked a DOT officer during an inspection and he did confirm this to be true.

Last week Ohio had training day DOT inspections at the I70 rest area west of Columbus, ( Last rest stop for 70 miles) pulled in there, they had like 4 trucks at a time,,, didn't bother me, after I left I hear on CB, they wrote one guy $125 ticket, non functioning equipment,,,, Windshield washer empty ( sunny out, 50 degrees, snow was gone) as a mechanic I seen write ups for no High beam headlite ( in Day time) ,, A tractor rear light assembly that has it's plug come loose will be 4 write ups ( no tailite, no turn signal, no stop light, & no Hazard ! ) driver steps into cab, kicks Fire Extinquisher snap hold down loose, write up same as empty extinquisher. since most states raised the speed limit, it seems they're trying to justify there jobs,, of course if some one is driving a dangerous truck, you would understand, but some of this could be just fix it and go, ya think **

of course if some one is driving a dangerous truck, you would understand, but some of this could be just fix it and go, ya think

Absolutely. We've all been around long enough to know that if you want to understand why something is being done you simply follow the trail of money.

The DOT is our best friend most of the time because if it wasn't for the enforcement out there we wouldn't see such an array of beautiful equipment at the overwhelming majority of companies out there. But they definitely abuse the power sometimes. Maybe it's to make a name for themselves when they're new. Maybe the power gets to their head. Maybe it's to justify their salary. It would be nice if not only the DOT, but people in general knew where to draw the line and would stick with doing things that are helpful and logical. But unfortunately we're only human after all and sometimes we do things to help ourselves at the expense of others.

I think it's safe to say that from a driver's perspective the DOT is a necessary evil. They may cross the line sometimes like anyone is liable to do, but if it wasn't for them we'd be driving rusty, falling apart, ragged old death machines like they do in Mexico. For anyone who hasn't been near the border, especially near Laredo, you'll see what I mean when you get there. Some of those trucks they drive I wouldn't want to use for backing practice in a gravel parking lot.

I would play devils advocate on a couple of points about certain write ups. Empty washer; trucks go hundreds of miles a day which means the weather can and will change. Not to mention melting snow, puddles, etc that may be present requiring the washer. Carrying a gallon of the stuff shouldn't be too much of a hassle and when needed (as part of a pre/post-trip), use it. The high beams are the same. If you perform a proper pre/post-trip you will know that you have a light out and it should be replaced. That probably is a tip off to a DOT officer that maybe this driver isn't the most attentive/safe driver out there if the things were overlooked or ignored on a pre-trip.

Now for the plug coming loose, that is a very valid ding on the DOT, in my opinion. Given the state of repair (or lack there of) on our road system, I can see these things happening; has happened to me with disconnected plugs being found on post inspection). At the same time, if a driver is disrespectful or has some other issues that indicate less than stellar performance, then they (DOY) are going to get on a roll.

As Brett says, it depends on the DOT inspector, the weather, the time of year, yada, yada, yada. Just as we have drivers that really shouldn't be in this profession, there are a small number of DOT/LEO's that fit the same category. Having been through Laredo a few times, I am thankful for a system that keeps the death traps away from me and mine.

I have no problem with law enforcement. Sometimes I think they are not strict enough when I see some of the trucks on the road. I have told many drivers as they left a truckstop that they had lights out or something I could see from my truck that needed looked and all they would say is ok thanks and I will look at it later. No one is that busy that they can't take 30 secs to change out a light.

This may be a dumb question.... On our pre trips in school, we check all the lights. How do you check your brake lights on the tractor and trailer when you are alone out there?

This may be a dumb question.... On our pre trips in school, we check all the lights. How do you check your brake lights on the tractor and trailer when you are alone out there?

If its dark outside you can press on the brakes and you'll see the lights illuminate red.

If its during the day, you can take a hammer and wedge it on the brake pedal. If done right, it'll hold down the brake enough to illuminate those brake lights so you can walk to the back and check. I carry a hammer on me for tire t*******, when I need to get my load locks extra-tight, and as a weapon to have.

This may be a dumb question.... On our pre trips in school, we check all the lights. How do you check your brake lights on the tractor and trailer when you are alone out there?

It's easy in the dark because you can see the red glow brighten. In the daytime...not so much.

This may be a dumb question.... On our pre trips in school, we check all the lights. How do you check your brake lights on the tractor and trailer when you are alone out there?

If its dark outside you can press on the brakes and you'll see the lights illuminate red.

If its during the day, you can take a hammer and wedge it on the brake pedal. If done right, it'll hold down the brake enough to illuminate those brake lights so you can walk to the back and check. I carry a hammer on me for tire t*******, when I need to get my load locks extra-tight, and as a weapon to have.

Thum ping

It thinks I'm saying a bad word..

I engage the hand brake and check on my three trips around the truck. I am a bit anal about making sure everything is functioning. I think it is my aviation back ground.