[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 49, Volume 5]

[Revised as of October 1, 2005]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 49CFR396.11]



[Page 465]

 

                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION

 

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

 

PART 396_INSPECTION, REPAIR, AND MAINTENANCE--Table of Contents

 

Sec. 396.11  Driver vehicle inspection report(s).



    (a) Report required. Every motor carrier shall require its drivers 

to report, and every driver shall prepare a report in writing at the 

completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated and the report 

shall cover at least the following parts and accessories:



--Service brakes including trailer brake connections

--Parking (hand) brake

--Steering mechanism

--Lighting devices and reflectors

--Tires

--Horn

--Windshield wipers

--Rear vision mirrors

--Coupling devices

--Wheels and rims

--Emergency equipment



    (b) Report content. The report shall identify the vehicle and list 

any defect or deficiency discovered by or reported to the driver which 

would affect the safety of operation of the vehicle or result in its 

mechanical breakdown. If no defect or deficiency is discovered by or 

reported to the driver, the report shall so indicate. In all instances, 

the driver shall sign the report. On two-driver operations, only one 

driver needs to sign the driver vehicle inspection report, provided both 

drivers agree as to the defects or deficiencies identified. If a driver 

operates more than one vehicle during the day, a report shall be 

prepared for each vehicle operated.

    (c) Corrective action. Prior to requiring or permitting a driver to 

operate a vehicle, every motor carrier or its agent shall repair any 

defect or deficiency listed on the driver vehicle inspection report 

which would be likely to affect the safety of operation of the vehicle.

    (1) Every motor carrier or its agent shall certify on the original 

driver vehicle inspection report which lists any defect or deficiency 

that the defect or deficiency has been repaired or that repair is 

unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again.

    (2) Every motor carrier shall maintain the original driver vehicle 

inspection report, the certification of repairs, and the certification 

of the driver's review for three months from the date the written report 

was prepared.

    (d) Exceptions. The rules in this section shall not apply to a 

private motor carrier of passengers (nonbusiness), a driveaway-towaway 

operation, or any motor carrier operating only one commercial motor 

vehicle.



[44 FR 38526, July 2, 1979, as amended at 45 FR 46425, July 10, 1980; 53 

FR 18058, May 19, 1988; 59 FR 8753, Feb. 23, 1994; 63 FR 33279, June 18, 

1998]