Drivers and carriers are expected to be aware of approximately 800 separate regulated CMV safety items, any one of which could lead to a citation and associated fine. Every seasoned driver generally understands the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), but it’s hard for everyone to keep track of
all of these items.
A citation issued following a roadside inspection by a qualified DOT officer will, when processed, lead to the assignment of CSA points to the driver or carrier. Speeding and lack of seat belt use are among the most common regulation violations. Inoperative or missing required lamps, brake and tire issues top the list of vehicle mechanical defects for which a driver might be cited.
Any CSA points assigned to the CMV driver’s score will adversely affect a carrier’s safety rating. Shippers and the public have access to a carrier’s safety rating. Therefore, it’s important to a driver’s career to be not only aware of citable defects, but defects that rise to the level of an out-of-service (OOS) determination.
The FMCSA and each state are members of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). The CVSA publishes the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (NASOOSC) and motor carrier safety enforcement personnel and their jurisdictions are expected to comply with these standards.
LAMPS
An inoperative or missing required lamp is, perhaps, the most common mechanical defect that would invite an officer to pull a driver over for a more thorough roadside inspection. Hopefully, the officer will give a just warning because a replacement lamp is on hand.
Below are examples of when an inoperative lamp does NOT place a vehicle OOS:
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Inoperative clearance, identification, marker, license plate, backup or hazard warning lamps
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One headlamp operative on low beam
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At least one steady-burning tail lamp on the rear of the rearmost vehicle
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At least one stop lamp on the rear of a single unit or the rear of the rearmost vehicle of a combination
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A bobtail rear turn signal, if the turn signal is located on the front of the vehicle and is visible from the rear (Any other vehicle with an operative turn signal visible on each side of the rear of a single unit vehicle or the rear of the rearmost vehicle of a combination of vehicles could be placed OOS)
BRAKES
Unacceptable brake defects almost always earn a citation and fine, but do not always lead to an OOS order. These defects are numerous and varied. They include improper maintenance, failure to replace pads or linings, grease or oil on a brake’s friction surface, any of the various brake chamber defective conditions and air supply and hose issues. If the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20 percent of the service brakes, you may count on being placed out of service. However, this could mean a ten-wheeler could have one defective brake and remain on duty. An 18-wheeler could have as many as three defective brakes before getting an OOS sticker on the windshield.
When counting the total number of brakes, the steering axle brakes are included toward the 20%. However, these brakes are held to a higher standard, so any one inoperative brake on the steer axle could have the truck placed OOS.
TIRES
Tires are one of the most important components affecting truck safety. The inspection of tires before and after every trip is not only required by federal regulation, it is the common sense thing to do to ensure one’s safety, and the safety of all others on the road. Tire failures can occur due to circumstances beyond a driver’s control or knowledge, such as manufacturing error, mechanical error or obstructions in the road.
Most of the defective tire issues should be as obvious to a driver on a pre-trip inspection as they are to a law enforcement officer during a roadside inspection. The most noticeable defect is excessive tread wear, either by overextending the useful life of the tire, or by a mechanical cause such as a misalignment or camber issue.
The minimum allowable tire tread depth on the CMV front tires, or steer tires, is 4/32 inch when measured on any point on a major tread groove. All other tires are allowed a minimum of 2/32 inch when measured accordingly. Anything less than these minimums could garner a citation, but do these qualify for an OOS order? Not according to the NASOOSC. The OOS standard is less than 2/32 inch on the steer tires when measured in any two adjacent tread grooves. All other tires that are worn to less than 1/32 inch when measured in any two adjacent major tread grooves.
Other conditions that reach the OOS standards are:
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When any part of the belt material, breaker strip or casing ply is visible in the tread
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When a sidewall is cut, worn or damaged to an extent that cord is exposed
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An observable bump, bulge or knot apparently related to sidewall separation
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Tire has a noticeable air leak or has 50% or less of maximum inflation pressure marked on the side of the tire
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Weight carried exceeds the tire load limit
Drivers that maintain an awareness of these and the 11 other vehicle maintenance categories of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria will be better prepared to avoid the considerable expense of being placed OOS, such as fines and penalties, towing, repair by an unknown shop and loss of revenue.