Vehicle Inspection: Best Practices Training Course

How many times have you passed a fellow driver that was pulled over to the side of the road while a trooper or inspection official examined their paperwork or checked their vehicle? It can happen to anyone, and when it does, you’d better make sure your vehicle is in good working order, your cargo is secured according to regulations, and you have all the required paperwork and certifications. If not, you could be prevented from driving further.

And that’s the least of your worries. Think about the times you’ve seen a vehicle that had crashed or rolled over. It looks horrible, and you can only hope no one was seriously injured, or worse, killed. And then there are news stories of commercial vehicles destroying entire sections of highway or overpasses. A heavy vehicle can cause a lot of damage,

In order to keep the highways safe, the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has created a set of rules you and your carrier must follow to ensure your vehicle can be driven safely. (eCFR :: 49 CFR Part 396 -- Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance). When you spend extended time on the road, things can wear out or malfunction between regular checkups. So, you’re required to inspect your vehicle every day and communicate issues with your carrier and the next driver of the vehicle so that it’s safe to drive at all times. And there are best practices on how to do this.

The idea is to check your vehicle and spot any defects that might pose safety hazards or cause you to break down during your trip. After all, if you blow a tire or your brakes fail, that could spell tragedy. And, if one of your lights or signals stops working you could cause an accident. If your vehicle starts leaking fluid, you might end up stranded somewhere.

This course will help you understand your responsibilities according to FMCSA regulations and give you the guidance you need to conduct inspections before, during and after you take your vehicle on the road. If you want to keep your vehicle safe and reliable, while staying on the right side of the law, this training is for you!

This program is available with Spanish and French closed captions.