An important part of the new requirements is the on-going responsibility for monitoring vehicle condition. Drivers must pay attention to the safe condition of their vehicle while on-duty.
The new inspection requirements tell drivers and carriers what to do when a vehicle has a defect or a major defect.
The regulations allow many different methods for reporting defects.
Carriers can have someone other than the driver complete the vehicle inspection. Any driver who accepts an inspection report completed by another person must also sign the report. This report must be carried by the driver.
| 1. Air Break System |
Defect(s)
• Audible Air leak.
• Slow air pressure build-up rate. |
Major Defect(s)
• Pushroad stroke of any brake exceeds the adjustment limit.
• Air loss rate exceeds prescribed limit.
• Inoperative towing vehicle (tractor) protection system.
• Low air warning system fails or system is activated.
• Inoperative service, parking or emergency brake.
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| 2. Cab |
Defect(s)
• Occupant compartment door fails to open.
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Major Defect(s)
• Any door fails to close securely.
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| 3. Cargo Securement |
Defect(s)
• Insecure or improper load covering. |
Major Defect(s)
• Insecure cargo.
•Absence, failure, malfunction or deterioration of required cargo securement device or load covering.
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| 4. Coupling Devices |
Defect(s)
• Coupler or mounting has loose or missing fastener. |
Major Defect(s)
• Coupler is insecure or movement exceeds prescribed limit.
•Coupling or locking mechanism is damaged or fails to lock.
• Defective, incorrect or missing saftey chain/cable.
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| 5. Dangerous Goods |
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Major Defect(s)
• Dangerous goods requirements not met.
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| 6. Driver Controls |
Defect(s)
• Accelerator pedal, clutch, gauges, audible and visual indicators or instruments fail to function properly.
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| 7. Driver Seat |
Defect(s)
• Seat is damaged or fails to remain in set position. |
Major Defect(s)
• Seatbelt or tether belt is insecure, missing or malfunctions.
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| 8. Electric Break System |
Defect(s)
• Loose or insecure wiring or electrical connection. |
Major Defect(s)
• Inoperative breakaway device.
• Inoperative brake.
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| 9. Emergency Equipment & Safety Devices |
Defect(s)
• Emergency equipment is missing, damaged or defective.
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| 10. Exhaust System |
Defect(s)
• Exhaust leak. |
Major Defect(s)
• Leak that causes exhaust gas to enter the occupant compartment.
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| 11. Frame and Cargo Body |
Defect(s)
• Damaged frame or cargo body. |
Major Defect(s)
• Visibly shifted, cracked, collapsing or sagging frame member(s).
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| 12. Fuel System |
Defect(s)
• Missing fuel tank. cap. |
Major Defect(s)
• Insecure fuel tank.
• Dripping fuel leak.
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| 13. General |
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Major Defect(s)
• Serious damage or deterioration that is noticeable and may afect the vehicle's safe operation.
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| 14. Glass and Mirrors |
Defect(s)
• Required mirror or window glass fails to provide the required view to the driver as a result of being cracked, broken, damaged, missing or maladjusted.
• Required mirror or glass has broken or damaged attachments onto vehicle body.
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| 15. Heater/Defroster |
Defect(s)
• Control or system failure. |
Major Defect(s)
• Defroster fails to provide unobstructed view through the windshield.
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| 16.Horn |
Defect(s)
•Vehicle has no operative horn.
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| 17. Hydraulic Brake System |
Defect(s)
• Brake fluid level is below indicated minimum level.
• Parking brake inoperative. |
Major Defect(s)
• Brake boost or power assist is not operative.
• Brake fluid leak.
• Brake pedal fade or insufficient brake pedal reserve
• Activated (other than ABS) warning device.
• Brake fluid reservoir is less than 1/4 full.
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| 18. Lamps and Reflectors |
Defect(s)
• Required lamp does not function as intended.
• Required reflector is missing or partially missing. |
Major Defect(s)
When lamps are required:
• Failure of both low-beam headlamps.
• Failure of both rearmost tail lamps.
At all times:
• Failure of rearmost turn-indicator lamp.
• Failure of both rearmost brake lamps.
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| 19. Steering |
Defect(s)
• Steering wheel lash (free-play) is greater than normal. |
Major Defect(s)
• Steering wheel is insecure, or does not respond normally.
• Steering wheel lash (free-play) exceeds required limit.
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| 20. Suspension System |
Defect(s)
• Air leak in air suspension system.
• Broken spring leaf.
• Suspension fastener is loose, missing or broken. |
Major Defect(s)
• Damaged, deflated air bag.
• Cracked or broken main spring leaf or more than one broken spring leaf.
• Part of spring leaf or suspension is missing, shifted out of place or in contact with another vehicle component.
• Loose U-bolt.
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| 21. Tires |
Defect(s)
• Damaged tread or sidewall of tire.
• Tire leaking. |
Major Defect(s)
• Flat tire.
• Tire tread depth is less than wear limit.
• Tire is in contact with another tire or any vehicle component other than mud-flap.
• Tire is marked "Not for highway use".
• Tire has exposed cords in the tread or outer side wall area.
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| 22. Wheels, Hubs and Fasteners |
Defect(s)
• Hub oil below minimum level. (When fitted with sight glass.)
• Leaking wheel seal. |
Major Defect(s)
• Wheel has loose, missing or ineffective fastener.
• Damaged, cracked or broken wheel, rim or attaching part.
• Evidence of imminent wheel, hub or bearing failure.
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| 23. Windshield Wiper / Washer |
Defect(s)
• Control or system malfunction.
• Wiper blade damaged, missing or fails to adequately clear driver's field of vision. |
Major Defect(s)
When necessary for prevailing weather condition.
• Wiper or washer fails to adequately clear driver's field of vision in area swept by driver's side wiper. |