Vehicle Maintenance Programs can quickly become problematic for motor carriers and any fleet type. Whether your team is operating smaller pickups and trailers or full size truck tractors and trailers. Your vehicles require an effective maintenance program in order to meet the goal of ZERO Violations during a Roadside Enforcement Inspection.
Unfortunately, many carriers throughout the United States struggle with their Vehicle Maintenance Program. When this happens the fleet repairs begin to snowball and soon the repair list becomes so substantial the it may seem that you’ll never get on top of it. When this happens, the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC in the FMCSA Safety Measurement System (SMS) or the Out-of-Service Rates will begin to trend upward.
The only way to get on top of your scoring is to get more clean roadside inspections with no violations. How do you do that? Seeking out roadside enforcement is like walking into the wolves den with a T-Bone strapped to your neck. It’s probably not going to end well for you or your company.
The best practice is to first correct your Vehicle Maintenance Plan, and even better hire Front Range Compliance Services, LLC, to do that for you.
Click the buttons below for more information on each topic.
Mock Driver and Vehicle Inspections
Top 10 - Corrective Actions for
Vehicle Maintenance Programs
Your first step is correcting your Vehicle Maintenance Plan. Review the SMS and see where you are trending with violations. Then apply corrective acton. We've created a list of the Top 10 Corrective Actions to help your company.
1.
Update or create a written vehicle maintenance program for all of the types of power unites and trailers used in your fleet.
2.
​Work with your maintenance technicians to create an effective work flow for shop projects and preventative maintenance programs.
3.
Create Preventative Maintenance workflow checklists to help ensure the vehicle is being properly inspected and repaired.
4.
Create a brake inspection policy to address the challenges with airbrake systems and ensure all maintenance technicians are properly trained in the brake service standards for the type of equipment you’re utilizing.
5.
Ensure your maintenance technicians are trained in the Minimum Inspection Procedures and Regulations to complete the Periodic Inspection.
6.
Review the documented repairs completed by your maintenance technicians during their normal day to day activities and after each unit has had a completed a Period Inspection.
7.
Develop a program to ensure each driver is completing proper Pre/Post Trip Inspections for each vehicle they operating in a shift.
8.
Review all DVIR’s completed by drivers with reported defects and follow through by reviewing the documented repairs completed by the maintenance technician.
9.
Develop and implement a rewards program or disciplinary policy for team member who violate the maintenance program policy while rewarding those drivers or maintenance technicians who demonstrate exceptional service.
10.
Complete random Mock Vehicle Inspections of your regulated fleet Power Units, Trailers, and Drivers.
Mock Vehicle Inspections
How is your Fleet Maintenance programs doing? You can find a Roadside Enforcement Officer and risk getting more violations or even and OOS order. Or better yet, schedule a time with FRCS to come to your location and complete some Mock Vehicle Inspections to help you determine how you fleet would do if it was a real inspection.
A mock inspection with FRCS, will help you be prepared for the real thing because we can identify where the weaknesses are and help you develop a plan to get your fleet in proper working order. As we always say, it is our goal to Keep You Off The Radar!
Preparing For The Road
Roadside Enforcement - Vehicle Inspections are the primary factor driving your company’s safety score. Setting a goal of Zero Violations is essential to being a successful owner/operator or fleet manager. Think this is an impossible goal? I assure you it can be done, but it takes a serious commitment to safety.
Every heard the phrase “Knowledge is Power”, now imagine having the knowledge and confidence that your commercial motor vehicle can successfully pass a Roadside Enforcement Inspection without a single violation. Sure an occasional item may pop up. We must have realistic expectations and from time to time something will go wrong. But the occasional item is not want you need to worry about.
Your company’s On-Road Performance is gauged by trending violations. A trend is identified when they same type of violation occurs three or more times within a two year period. So Basically when you identify an item has been in violation twice already, you need to take corrective action steps to ensure a third occurrence does not happen.
Waiting to see in your corrective action is working can be painstaking. This is where the FRCS Mock Inspection can fit into your program perfectly. Working with us to set up the occasional random inspection(s) within your fleet will help to identify any areas of concern without affecting you SMS Score. Knowing the fleet is ready for Roadside Inspection will provide you and the team more confidence in building a successful program.
Inspection Levels
There are five levels of our Mock Vehicle Inspection program. Each level is designed to focus on specific aspects of the Roadside Enforcement Inspection. By successfully completing each level of the inspection your company is guaranteed success during any interaction with an enforcement officer.
Click the Level Number or scroll for more information.
Driver and Complete Vehicle Inspection
Driver and Walk Around Vehicle Inspection
Driver, Paperwork Inspection, & Periodic Inspection
Specific Focused Inspection i.e. Cargo Securement, Brake Inspection, ELD Inspection etc.
Vehicle Only Complete Inspection
Level I
During a Level 1 inspection, we will review driver’s current license, medical certification, hours of service, and any driver vehicle inspection reports. A complete vehicle inspection consisting of a walk around inspection of the truck or truck/trailer combination, which include an inspection the cab, wheels, lights, frames, cargo securement, emergency equipment etc. Additionally, we will crawl under the vehicle and compete and under carriage inspection. This will include an inspection of the frame, brakes, air lines, drive shaft, axles etc.
Level II
During a Level 2 inspection, we will review driver’s current license, medical certification, hours of service, and any driver vehicle inspection reports. A complete vehicle walk around inspection of the truck or truck/trailer combination, which include an inspection the cab, wheels, lights, outside frame rails, cargo securement, emergency equipment etc.
Level III
During a Level 3 inspection, we will review driver’s current license, medical certification, hours of service, any driver vehicle inspection reports and the Periodic inspections for the combination of vehicles.
Level IV
This inspection is designed to focus specifically on single item of concern within the carriers fleet. We often complete Level 4 inspection to inspect the vehicle’s brake system or cargo securement. Generally, these focused topics are driven by the SMS scoring and trending violations. This inspection was help us gauge over time how the Corrective Action Improvements are affecting the day to day operation or if they have been followed though in the implementation process.
Level V
A Level 5 inspection, will allow us to focus on your fleet while the vehicle are parked or in-between shift dispatch. Generally the Level 5 Inspection will allow us to review a larger portion of the fleet at a single event. During a Level 5 Inspection a complete vehicle inspection consisting of a walk around inspection of the truck or truck/trailer combination, which include an inspection the cab, wheels, lights, frames, cargo securement, emergency equipment etc. Additionally, we will crawl under the vehicle and compete and under carriage inspection. This will include an inspection of the frame, brakes, air lines, drive shaft, axles etc.