Commercial vehicles, including 18-wheelers, have to undergo various inspections to ensure they meet safety and regulatory standards to be on our roads. According to a truck accident lawyer, some common types of inspections these vehicles undergo are:
- The first type of inspection is a pre-trip inspection. This inspection is done by the driver of the vehicle before going on a journey. It involves checking the various components of the vehicle, such as its brakes, tires, lights, mirrors, fluid levels, and coupling devices to make sure they are all working properly.
- In the United States, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires periodic inspections, including annual inspections, to ensure that they comply with certain safety regulations involving the vehicle’s safety – including brakes, tires, lights, steering and other components. These inspections are usually quite thorough and may require that the vehicle be inspected at a certified inspection facility.
- Since properly-working brakes are critical to ensuring safety, brake inspections are often required to be done separately from the annual inspection to ensure they comply with safety regulations. Like the annual inspection, it is quite thorough and is often required that the inspection be conducted at a certified inspection facility. This inspection may involve checking the brake pads, drums, rotors, lines, hoses, and fluid levels.
- 18 wheelers are also subject to roadside inspections conducted by law enforcement. These inspections occur at random and at any time, and may be based on things like vehicle type, carrier safety history, or geographic location. They could be routine or targeted inspections.
- Some jurisdictions also require an emissions inspection to ensure that the vehicle meets environmental standards for air quality. In particular, these emissions inspections apply to diesel-powered vehicles because they can produce significant emissions.
- Some commercial vehicles may also be subjected to inspections to ensure they comply with weight and size regulations for certain roads. This helps to prevent overloading, which can be a safety risk and cause damage to roads and infrastructure.
- Commercial vehicles also have to undergo regular safety inspections, which may include the inspection of a wide range of safety-related components such as lights, signals, mirrors, steering, suspension, and tires.
- The Department of Transportation (DOT) also conducts its own inspections to ensure compliance with federal regulations as our friends at Kiefer & Kiefer can share. These inspections are usually conducted at random roadside checkpoints, and sometimes during routine inspections at designated facilities.
- If the vehicle is transporting hazardous materials, it may be subject to hazmat inspections, which are additional inspections to ensure compliance with regulations governing the transportation of hazardous substances.
- After completing a trip, the driver should do a post-trip inspection to identify any issues that may have developed during the preceding trip. These inspections help ensure that these issues are addressed promptly so that the vehicle can remain in safe working condition.
In sum, 18 wheelers, like other commercial vehicles, are subject to both regular and periodic inspections. However, the frequency of the inspections and the specific requirements for these inspections vary depending on the jurisdiction and type of vehicle. If you are involved in an accident with a truck and believe they have not conducted these inspections properly, contact a lawyer near you for help.