[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 49, Volume 5]
[Revised as of October 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 49CFR396.11]

[Page 471-472]
 
                        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


[[Page 472]]


    (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]