How to Handle a D.O.T. Inspection Like a Boss
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Something every truck driver will experience sooner or later, is a D.O.T. inspection or a similar inspection.
Knowing how to handle a D.O.T. inspector is important.
Dave gives some tips for drivers how to get through an inspection with the least amount of resistance!
Dave also shares several personal experiences with D.O.T. inspectors from his driving career.
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D.O T. Be like ...hey pull on this scale so we can weigh your wallet 😂
Nice hahaha
I really appreciate the videos, we don't have enough older men around to share these things with the younger generation.
I started driving on 02/2017 and was never stopped for a DOT inspection until 12/24/2018 After crossing into Nipton, CA from NV. I saw the port of entry scales open so I go in there. The light indicated me to go around the building to have a level 1 done so I drove inside the shop and followed the directions/instructions that were given to me and spoke only when they needed info about the tractor/trailer, it took 1 hour. After the inspection the officer placed a sticker on my right windshield and told me I would be fine for another 3 months and congratulated me for passing. I was happy that night.
Been driving truck for 20 years. Unless you have an unlimited amount of money and an unlimited amount of hours on your log so you can spend 3 hours in the scale getting inspected it's best to just stay off of roads that have scales on them. They can find something wrong with a truck that has less than a hundred miles on it if they want to. I pull 53's on state highways all the time. You don't have to run the interstate.
I'll keep that in Mind..
Dave, thanks. I am not a truck driver, I'm a dairy farmer, yet I could sit here and listen to you tell truck driving stories all day, and never get bored. I think you provide for your industry a great service.
Agreed, I love the stories.
Hey, thank you Keith! Dave
Ill second that, would love to have a 2 hour video with just funny stories of the road!
I think dave should make more vlogs about his experiences, there very interesting and I learn from him thanks dave!
Have you ever drove across the scale at 7 mph when its posted at 5 mph ? DON"T . That was a bad day.
With ELogs make sure you have the little information sheet/pamphlet that tells the DOT officer how to check your Elog.
This one of the reason nobody wants to be a trucker
Unfortunately It's all about revenue now. I never had any issues with DOT or any other law enforcement officer back in the 90's and early 2000's. You could laugh and joke and carry on a good conversation, not anymore! I miss what cops use to be like.
Great advice!If they can't find something wrong,they'll make something up if they feel like it.But your attitude counts!
Respect to this veteran trucker 👨🏼✈️
"The carburetor "Dave you just made my day lol.
I like this guy. He tells the truth.
Always fight the ticket. Even if you lose, they're going to spend more money prosecuting than they're going to get from you paying the fine.
I'm glad this guy is on here he's educational I've never been through. Not looking forward to it definitely going to keep my mouth shut
DOT... department of taxation.
Plus if you get a good inspection for keeping your mouth shut & keeping your cool you will get money from your company for good inspections...
The first point you made is valid across ALL police encounters. Argue the judge, not the cop. Ever. Ever.
The guy you mentioned who said you had the leak made a fool of himself, not because he mistook a compressor for a carburetor, but because he didn't have enough humility or integrity to admit he was wrong.
I agree! But it's a scary example of how well trained some of those people are!
I've found in my experience that if you drive a decent looking rig (crap not falling off and bungee cord together, and your polite to the officer you'll get through pretty easily.
My first year driving I had a flat and didn't know the air bag got punctured well I found out at the weigh station. It red flag me because of the wrong weight distribution on the back axles and I had to go thru level 1 inspection and they thru the book at me ending up with 14 citations altogether. . Luckily it all comes off my PSP scores in a few months. There's always a learning curve. Since than, I've aced each inspection.
Carb was leaking??? Hopefully the spark plugs won't ignite it. LOL!! Great stories and helpful info on trucking, I show some of these videos to the new guys I train. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Tom! Dave
Great anecdotal insights here! Thanks, I'm considering truck in the summer 2019.
Let me add that even being a rookie. I was bobtail and I come up to a scale. I automatically went through because even though I was not carrying a load. I thought to myself I am still driving a commercial vehicle and can't chance it. And not even knowing it was, and is, the best rookie decision I ever made. Thank you for the info Dave.
I've always told them go ahead and inspect away. You might find something I missed
Run legal always! It keeps your money in your pockets. Sometimes you need to know how to get around some scales. Lol!
DOT never will do a roadside inspection on a bus
Moral to the story is "Stay out of California". Every time I have gone there felt like I was going to be stabbed, shot, or robbed.
Never had a bad experience in California, except for that one ticket, and I felt like I got away lucky! Dave
What part of California have you been visiting?
My first full blown inspection happened on my very first trip! I had been told horror stories about DOT inspectors. I was so scared that the inspector commented on why i was shaking lol. He was a nice man and thankfully, i had a new truck and trailer at the time...whew. Just did like you said i was quiet and respectful and i left unscaved. Great video! 🐍
Thank you! Dave
Alice Dominguez unscathed.
the less you say to the law the better OFF you are
Extortion at it's finest.....DAVE YOU'RE THE MAN!!!
Please tell that to my wife. Dave
Will do brother!! Take care.
D.O.T = Highwayman : a robber who steals from travelers.
I learned the hardway to shut up 🙊, definitely stay quiet, there isnt much you can do once inspected.
You educate me very good.Thank you very much.
Just avoid taking to them period. Don’t give any more evidence.
makes you not want to be a trucker... even though I do
My brother worked as an inspector for many years. He was a petty tyrant all his life, but he did cut some people some slack.
Hey Dave, I was in Massachusetts last year and I got stopped at a weigh station, and all the " officers " there were cadets. To me they looked under age, I at first thought it was take your kid to work day. The cadet I delt with was as gung ho militant as you can imagine. To my horror I forgot to start my paper log ( it was early) and man this guy was in heaven. He was'nt going to let me off. He got so pissed at me when I asked where is the adult officer? In hind sight I'll never take these situations lightly and I will always keep my logs updated. That cost me $200 from the state and my then company charged me the same.
Roach burns lol
Never heard such a thing
What if the guy rolls his tobacco
Went through an inspection station last year and the "park" light came on. I just figured a further look see and was told I had no brake lights on the trailer. The inspector was nice about it and we walked around checked out the truck and trailer and she asked for the truck's paperwork and my log book. I told her I had done a full inspection and they had worked and I would not take a trailer with a major fault and she believed me. I asked why and she said, the trailer is dirty but everything is clean, even the tandem oil hubs were cleaned. She said that it was the small things that showed I had recently been there. When I asked about the fine, she said that I didn't get one but my employer's CVOR gets dinged. Turns out the fuse for the brake circuit on the tractor had blown and I was able to fix it and go on my way.
Moral of the story, don't argue and be polite.
Excellent morale! Dave
I worked for over 25 years as a mechanic, getting trucks away from inspections. If the inspector knew me, he would usually take my word for the safety of the rig. If your fleet has a good history of passing the checks, they are not as picky. If you have chrome ladies on your mudflaps and a ton of extra lights, it's like waving a red flag at a bull. DON'T attract undo attention to your truck and your day will go smoothly.
This guy does a fantastic job convincing people of all the reasons NOT to get into trucking. Seriously, when is the last time you drove down the highway at 55 MPH and got pulled over simply because the state trooper was bored?
I've been pulled into a RIDE program while driving a semi for that very reason. Middle of no where the cop even said. First vehicle I've see in an hour.
Definitely some great advise. Just wait to fight any tickets in court. Don't give the inspector a hard time while going through the inspection. The name of the game is to get through it quickly and move on. You're absolutely correct. Thanks for the wisdom my trucking friend. I appreciate you stepping up to help out the trucking industry. Stay safe out there. Thanks.
Thank you sir! Dave
After you pay your fine you have to make sure they put it on the computer 💻 so the 👮 cops can see it when they stop you!
10-4! Dave
Smart-Trucking.com 👌
I drive across at the speed! Sometimes your doing 2 or 3 over.
Or under.
I'd rather be under..
Great Vid, I had a similar experience here in Hawaii, I was pulled in for a full inspection by a new DOT officer, after 25 years of driving in Hawaii I know all the old timers, but I was written up for leaking brake fluid, so I just kept quite an took it to court, were it was thrown out. Just a quick tip, keep your dashboard clean, and your landing gear cranked all the way up and maybe you don`t get a second look.
Another great video!! Keep up the good work!!
You can be all pro, but if they got quota system, you going down
They wrote a ticket to my driver saying that he avoided the weight station witch was not true because he got off that road before passing the weight station because hes GPS told him to get off , and because of that dot officer said he was avoiding weight station that's ridiculous because there was no sign saying that drivers are force to pass by
I've known scales like that! I recommend taking that one to court! Dave
Must admit, I get off I-85 in Georgia prior to the scale when I have a back haul. I get back on after I've passed it. There is a Love's just prior to the scale. I frankly don't feel like taking the time to deal with the CAT scale.
Agree with u New Mexico is one of them they gave a ticket to my driver for something that is not fine I am trying to fight it on dataq
Thanks for the video. I'm considering getting into the industry and D.O.T. inspections never crossed my mind.
I like the informative stories. I always look forwards to seeing them. Plain and straight forward videos nicely done!
If only they wrote tickets you could fight in court. They write warnings which are nearly impossible to get off your CSA. I’m happy to go to court but they won’t do it anymore.
When I got into trucking I was taught never get in an argument with the CVSE inspectors I'm local so I never travel across the border into the USA. As Dave say's make sure your paper work is straight and keep your mouth shut let them find what they find and agree with it. They will find something wrong with brand new truck if you piss them off. For us gravel trucks its mud flaps and license plate lights, the mud flap could be torn or its not the regulation distance from the road surface. L plate lights they are always non functioning because road vibration takes them out. Ripped seats and burned out dash lights is their favorite nit pick items.
For this reason I keep all my truck paperwork in a binder. I have it divided into four sections. The first is tractor papers, including my cab card, insurance, IFTA, battery exemption, anything that is for the tractor. My next section is all my instructions for my ELD. The third section is all my company's permits, organized by state in alphabetical order. The last section is my DOT medical long form and card. So far, in my first year as a rookie driver, I've only had one instance I needed to provide this information, but the officer at the time thanked me for having all my paperwork neatly organized and easy for him to find. For convenience I keep this binder and my clipboard with my BOLs and other relevant trip papers on my passenger seat. They're the only things that go there.
Thanks for all the informative videos man,I'm new to the industry and I have alot to learn so I appreciate the help
Happy to help Ray! Thanks for watching! Dave
Its not just the states that are having trouble getting drivers, a shortage down under in Australia as well. Its becoming the most over regulated and over fined industry in the world. Spelling mistakes in your log book, I'll take this weeks pays say the inspector..
Mojave scale is the WORST! and they have their boys with service truck waiting right there! They will find every single deatail that's a bit off and not let you go untill you get it fixed. And guess what?! The only guys who will fix it there are their pals(even though the inspectors claim they are not in any way related) are the only ones available! And will charge you tripple the amount of a regular service. I was so angry that out of a principle I called our mechanic in San Bernardino and paid him to drive all the way to make those minor stupid repairs. Ended up paying less even after covering my guy's travel expense. And you're right, it's very easy to get distracted just for a second and miss that weigh station.
Thank you I'm becoming a tanker driver
Port of Entry Woodburn Oregon- Every thing legal, axles, gross, and all paperwork-I'm a veteran by this time in my career so no worries. Roll across the scale get the pull over bring in paper work signal. Two officers were working the scale that day as I reported to the one who pulled me in and presented all paperwork he wanted to see the other officer was having a heated conversation with a driver that had also been pulled in. The argument was going like this- The officer- It is a loaded flatbed! The driver- No it's an empty dry box! The officer- No it's a container secured to your flatbed-it is a loaded flatbed! Driver- No it is a container I bought and secured to my flatbed to make a dry box, it's an empty dry box! Anyway my guy says everything is in order and says I can go so I thanked him and an yanked my thumb towards the other officer and driver still going at it an he shrugs his shoulders with a big grin. As I'm exiting the scale house- It's a loaded flatbed- No it's an empty dry box---- Man I bust a gut after I got outa there?
Man, excellent story! Thank you! Dave
Great video as always Dave!!
I was in my third year of driving when some of us decided to haul concrete in 59 B Model Mack's. (You learn how to drive a 5 and a 4, you can drive anything.) We were getting Bacon and Davis, so the money was great!
The old man that hired us called out one day that the DOT was set up outside the gaits, and that if anyone drove off the site in one of those 59 B Model Macks, that we would be immediately fired! Oh, and that he'd say that the truck was stolen We all got the point.
Lee bought the trucks at an auction, and as soon as we were done, he was going to take the beds off the dump trucks and dispose of them. I doubt any of them would have passed an inspection.
Learning a lot from your experience! Thank you for uploading.
Thank you sir! Dave
Speaking of D.O.T. Inspectors, years ago I had a federal load going from Pennsylvania to Nevada. It wasn't my trailer I had Bob tailed for it. There were placards all over it and it had two seals in place. The bill of lading was about ten pages long, the first page and a half being persons and agencies to contact in case of an incident. The most important first and so on. Everything was fine until I got to New Mexico which at that time at least inspected everyone. My inspector was fairly young and after checking things over wanted me to open the trailer. Having been told by the shipper that under no circumstances would that trailer be opened,I said no. The argument went on about 15 minutes despite me repeatedly suggesting that he contact one or more of the people on the bill of lading cover sheet. Finally, his supervisor come over to see what the problem was because by now my inspector was hopping mad. The supervisor took one glace at that cover sheet, obviously didn't like what he saw and with my inspector still sputtering that he wanted to inspect my load told me to get back in my truck and not to stop for anything until I got to Arizona. Never did know what was on that trailer, but I dropped it off in the middle of nowhere, Nevada. Picked up an empty and left.
Yes officer, thank you officer, have a good day officer.
That's about right! Shine your boots officer?
Wait until the inspector is under the truck checking the stroke then slam on the gas pedal and say it was an accident
Handle it like a professional period . You have no idea what the last jackass they just encountered
I just got stopped by the DOT last Friday by a surprise inspection. DOT inspector let me go with a warning for not having any load locks holding my load.
Good advice as always, I had lots of inspections, yes in CA too, not one ticket, could have got lots, just keep quiet, and thank the officer for pointing out the problem, sorry sir, thankyou for the info, I will know for the future. Easy, I work hard for my check, why make it easy to give away.
Hey thanks for all the info I am a transit driver who loves trucks and want to drive when I retire your info is great for me to learn trucking
Great video and I’ll say it again....best trucker on you tube !!
Thank you very much! Dave
Kept my mouth shut, however, I didn’t know it was good thing I did unknowingly. Well I got away with just a warning.!!
AWESOME video as Usual... THANKYOU FOR SHARING
Thank you sir! Dave
Great advice as always. I enjoy your humor also. The carburetor story is pretty good. That reminds me of an old military joke. People who have just joined the military often times get asked to get the keys out of the Humvee. Military Humvees don’t have keys. They are push button start. Always enjoy the informative videos. Stay safe trucker
You too Brady! Thanks! Dave
Yes sir, No sir, period everytime, I am always curious and polite, may crack a joke if I see a good opportunity. I was working for Schneider intermodal out of Denver, one of our biggest contracts was Lowes in Cheyanne. Those trucks could go 63 miles per hour (drove me nuts) and we were about to get off the highway when a Wyoming state trooper pulled us over, she came up along the passenger side where I was, I opened the door for her and she said good morning guys, I replied with good morning ma'am and then I said I know toy didn't pull us over for speeding, she laughed and we did to. She did a level 3 on us we passed she said have a great day, and don't speed. We laughed again and went on our way.
I enjoy your videos .
Thanks Cheryl! Dave
I got pulled into a DOT station in Oregon for driving too fast through the weigh station.
I was a new driver and all my documents were in order but I was nervous as hell.
The DOT officer demanded to know why I didn't slow down.
I told him my brakes didn't work very well.
That's when he pistol whipped me.
Great advice!! I will be trying my hand otr trucking soon. Your videos have info than an other I’ve seen so. Thanks for all efforts and keep on trucking!!!
Thanks and good luck! Dave
Again good video: Your old but I'm older sorry to say but I am in love with old stories. Got ticket for tractor air line bumping tractor frame that just wiped the dust off. Kept my mouth shut, got new air line, cut out shinny spot, took shinny spot to court. Got money back, Third time for the D.O.T. cop. I'm still trucking, He is not! You would help write my book it could turn into catalog.
I remember my first blown inspection 0600 coming across the Kentucky state line out of Virginia pulling military supplies First sucker to roll in he said he didn't want to do it much as I didn't want it done but it had to happen passed clean as a whistle, second time was on i-24 wb truck in front of me stopped my Trailer tandem pin's came loose they had to come find out what that Noise was got a Over weight and over length But Like you said kept my cool and just agreed with them. Kept my duck's in a row like a good driver.
DOT isn't as bad as MTO. The folks working at MTO just want to give truckers tickets any way they can. Some real blood suckers working there
i was picking up steel for a job my dad was doing. my old 1/2 ton ford pulling my trailer, got told to go across the scales 22,600 lb. three times over what my truck is rating for. got tickets for lights, (backup light) poor wireing (it needed a zip tiy to hold it a little higher) a bumper that was to high, load wasent tarped, welder wasent tiyed down, no seatbelt...... everything but over loaded. why? and in court it was all tossed out :) (i gave a gallon of hard cider to the cop) but still that was a bad night..
that little bribe made the tickets go away..
Great advise! Love watching and listening to your videos..very friendly and helpful way to connect to all of us truckers. Keep up the good work.. we all need more positive personalities in truck world like yourself.
Thank you! Dave
O wouldn't it be nice if all truckers just took a one week vacation all at the same time Wonder what the outcome would be if that Happened
I'm all for that idea!
His carburetor is leaking...hah most likely. The truck Dave was driving at the time was fuel injected
I pulled into one station on the border of AL and GA. Dude was standing out there smoking a cigarette. He asked me, "when was the last time you got a ticket for your brakes?" That took me by total surprise, my only response was, "WHAT?" So he asked me again. I told him I never did. He then asked if I was in a hurry and I said "yeah, running out of time on my clock." And he waved me on. That still makes me scratch my head when I think about it.
Maybe he was just doing a survey!?! Dave
Hey Dave..."The devil knows more from being old than from being the devil." Thanks for share...!!
Excellent advise and great stories. I really enjoy your vids! Great personality.
Thank you! Dave
He said he calls it the "carburetor" because he does NOT KNOW, and was too proud to admit it, kinda like "I'M THE BOSS, WHAT I SAY GOES. IF YOU BECOME WISE, I'LL JUST FINE YOU". It is how it goes!
Please tell me you fought that in court I swear if I had a deal T officer make me spend my money to change some airlines that were not damaged I would fight that in court that is wrong
It was wrong. Sadly, at the time, I had neither the time or the money to fight that in court, and even if I had won, the charge stays on my operating authority and on my commercial abstract , win or lose, here in Ontario, which is also really wrong. One good example of why I did the large majority of my trucking in the U.S. Dave
A brand new truck and trailer following all laws a DOT officer can still find something wrong and give you a ticket.
Please join Ooida 😎🇺🇸😎🇺🇸Resistance is American
If you're stopped for inspection, ask to inspect the pig vehicle first. Their all dummys
No good to be a truck driver to much headache
This is why we are treated like this. If everyone wasnt scared of them they wouldn't have near as much power as they do. This is our fault.
I’m new to these videos. I’m also new to over the road 18 wheelers. Many years of local employment straight trucks. I find this info very helpful and much appreciated
Dave, I love your videos, they are the best. Brings back great memories, am retired now and miss the big road.
Some of the Compressors have weep holes 😢 💧...
Anymore, you can collect $5,000 in fines in Kern County, CA on one citation. Do NOT speed or get a log violation there.
SemperFido9915 yeah remind me not to go to California. I wouldn't live there but remind me not to travel there either?
Kern county is Bakersfield unless you are driving like a jackass and keep it 60 you will be fine.
There’s a city here in Mn that has its own DOT. They pulled trucks over & red flagged a truck for low power steering fluid only thing is that it was above the add but below the full & being a couple PSI low the steer tires.
Brian Mathison damn that sucks
I drive locally here in LA. I deliver to 5 stores in orange and 2 in San Diego, which has me go thru the San onofre scales everyday on my route. Honestly have never had a bad experience there. One time I even had a good amount of oil leak onto the inspection lane, but even then the inspector just gave me a warning. There was this one week where I was pulled in 4 times after they ran my DOT number showing an expired MCP. Luckily they would only give me warnings until I got on my bosses case abput having those up to date