The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that weighs in over 10,001 pounds to receive an annual inspection to ensure the CMV is in good condition without any safety concerns. However, there are numerous types of inspections and drivers need to be familiar with them all so they can know what to expect.

  1. Level I—North American Standard Inspection (45-60 minutes): This is the most common type of inspection drivers will encounter. During a Level I inspection, a DOT employee will request to review the individual’s commercial driver’s license (CDL), medical certification and any pertinent waivers, and the driver’s log book containing the previous eight on-duty day’s hours of service records (RODS). They may request additional documents such as HAZMAT endorsements. The inspector will also check for the presence of drugs or alcohol before checking several safety systems and features such as seat belts, the brakes, and lights (taillight, headlights, turn signals, etc.).
  2. Level II—Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection (30 minutes): This inspection is the same as a Level I inspection except the inspector doesn’t investigate the underside of the CMV. This type of inspection is similar to what drivers should do themselves during a pre-trip inspection.
  3. Level III—Driver-Only Inspection (15 minutes). This type of inspection focuses on the driver only and excludes the CMV. The inspector will look for alcohol or drug use as well as seatbelt use. Like a Level I and II inspection, the driver will need to present various pieces of paperwork such as their CDL, medical certificate, RODS, HAZMAT endorsements, Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate, and more.
  4. Level IV—Special Inspection (time varies): DOT inspectors perform this kind of inspection to confirm or refute a concerning safety trend. The inspection focuses on one specific item of the truck.
  5. Level V—Vehicle-Only Inspection (30 minutes): This type of inspection focuses on the vehicle alone and the driver doesn’t have to be present for it. The inspector will look at the brake and fuel system, securement devices for cargo, lights, windshield wipers, suspension, tires, and anything else truck-related inspected in a Level I inspection.
  6. Level VI—Enhanced NAS Inspection for Radiative Shipments (60 minutes): This inspection is for drivers transporting certain radiological cargo. Trucks carrying this type of shipment receive a decal depicting a nuclear symbol at the point of origin where it remains until the cargo arrives at the final destination and is removed from the truck.

While inspections are a part of operating a CMV, they don’t have to be a painful experience. Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) expedite inspections and reduce the likelihood of a form and manner violation, as the device won’t be lacking vital information such as dates, mileage, etc. To learn more about how ELDs reduce safety violations during inspections as well as improve fleet safety, contact the experts at DriverCheck.