Question

H

hunter

Member
Feb 4, 2010
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Hello All:
I am in a small debate with our safety department and I have a question for you all.
As a Canadian carrier hauling to the United States are we required to do a pre and post trip inspection. I know that we are required to do a pre trip here before starting out. We drive 10 hours to our destination take our time off, drop trailer and come home with another trailer. Are we required to do a post trip once we drop the trailer in the US. Safety states that our pre trip covers the post trip and because we are Canadian post trip inspections are not required. I am under the understanding that once we are in the US we must abide by their laws which a post trip is required.
Thanks
 
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/title49/section/396.11
§ 396.11: Driver vehicle inspection report(s).

(a) Equipment provided by motor carrier. (1) Report required. Every motor carrier shall require its drivers to report, and every driver shall prepare a report in writing at the completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated, except for intermodal equipment tendered by an intermodal equipment provider.
Click to expand...
 
Long answer, no you do not need to do as reciprocity covers you in this case.

But, why wouldn't you do it when you stop as well, so that any repairs (tire repair etc) could be caught before you wake up and delay your trip.
 
I always used the rule that if you're traveling across different jurisdictions, you use the strictest rule. That way you can't lose.

A post trip inspection is definitely not a bad idea though.
 
Thanks All: The debate that I am having is our drivers are doing a post trip as it is company policy. What the drivers are being told is that because it is policy they must do it but they are not required to log it. My opinion is that if you do it you log it.
 
as per the regulations, if the are doing and recording the time on of inspection on the DVIR, then there must be a corresponding entry to cover the time on the log.
 
@PSTC ... while I appreciate that you are in the safety & compliance business, I take issue with your reciprocity argument.
If a driver is on a dispatch that crosses the international border between the United States and Canada, all of the rules, regulations, and restrictions that apply to a U.S. carrier, apply to the driver on that international dispatch.
A favorite one of U.S. auditors is the driving hour rule. As Canadians we get to drive 13 hours, but in the U.S only 10 1/2 hours (11 - 1/2 hour break). If your 10 1/2 hours takes you to the border coming into Canada, legally you have to shut down for 10 hours. Because you are on an international dispatch, U.S. rule applies right up to the end of delivery.
The same applies for the post trip inspection. Because you are on an international dispatch, U.S. rule applies right up to the end of delivery, and U.S. rule requires a post trip inspection.
 
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