Portable Sanitation Association International

Page 15 ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION MARCH 4, 2020 Driver Inspection Reports …continued from page 9 Continued on page 21 But you might think, "This is not that big of a deal. We can get by…besides, we can't afford to have a truck off the road." Think again. Even if nothing bad happens—and you don't know that it won't—the fines and bad publicity can really cost you. For example, the January 2020 issue of Transportation Regulatory Alert shared this story: A driver for [a] Bronx company discovered that the transmission on his truck was malfunctioning because the vehicle rolled backward despite being in "Park." As required under FMCSA regulations, the driver completed a post-trip inspection report (DVIR) to inform his employer about this serious safety concern. One week later, the driver noticed the vehicle was still defective, so he reported the problem again. […] it wasn't until five weeks later—six weeks after the first report—that the company finally sent the truck to a shop." The publication reported that the company was audited and the fact that the truck stayed in service was discovered. It cost the firm $4,560 in fines. They argued that their industry had low profit margins and the fine was "unfair" and "punitive." The judge simply pointed out the fine could have been as much as $9,360 and ordered them to pay within 30 days. Worse than the fine, though, would have been the cost if the truck had rolled and hurt someone or damaged property. Don't forget your annual inspections. If your company falls under FMCSA regulations, you must complete a more thorough inspection at least once a year. Even if you are not required to follow FMCSA rules, though, it is a good idea to do this because you can catch things early. These inspections apply not just to the truck itself but to each segment of a combination vehicle. So, you should be also inspecting your trailers and other equipment that would be hitched to a truck. If you fall under FMCSA requirements, these inspections must include at a minimum all items enumerated in the Minimum Periodic Inspection Standards, Appendix G to Subchapter B of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Even if you don't fall under FMCSA, Appendix G provides a good list of things to check and fix annually if needed. This will keep your company safer and promote long life for your trucks. FMSCA requires you to keep the original or a copy of the periodic inspection report for 14 months from the report date. The PSAI recommends you keep it until six months after you sell, trade or scrap the vehicle. Safety Culture with Vehicle Inspections The best procedures in the world can be undermined if you don't have a safety culture in your company. If drivers fail to do inspections or aren't thorough, your risks go up. If you fail to be proactive and fix things when they are broken, your risks go up more. It is especially important to make sure that everyone in the company knows you expect them to focus on safety and good vehicle maintenance. That will help you should you ever be sued after an accident or if an unhappy team member reports the company. Here's a real example. In March 2019 a whistle blower reported to OSHA that his company—a national freight delivery service—was requiring him to drive a vehicle with unsafe equipment.

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