Is this a DOT violation?

Posted by Psyche_Mike@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 28 comments

One of our box trucks has a pretty big gap in between the box and the frame, looks like the wood it was mounted to has splintered away.

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DOT here, no specific violation for this. If an agent really had it out for and can express why it is an unsafe situation he could write it under a general maintenance violation code but that would be easily overturned in the Data Q process. As long as the mounting hardware that holds your box to the frame is not loose you’re good. Check your mounting hardware between the box and frame regularly. It’s an actually a common out of service for box trucks.

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Severe-Island-845@reddit

Hey DOT. Why did you write me up for hoses chafing when they were fine - just touching? Is it because you couldn’t find anything else on the truck? And do you think I should crawl under my tractor to see that on my pre trip?

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NegusTyGaming-YPSTFU@reddit

Also DOT here…is that a Babyyyyy Box Truck

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Few-Chemical-5165@reddit

I was going to say something like that.But not as a dot officer, because i'm a former truck driver.But I didn't see anything wrong with it, either.

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orbak@reddit

Also DOT ringing in with a pet peeve: 396.3a1 (the general maintenance code) isnt a “make stuff up code” for things we don’t like. It has specific uses, mostly to cover things in OOSC not otherwise specifically cited in FMCSRs. 396.3a1 shouldn’t just be written for random things that an inspector doesn’t “think” look right. If it’s not addressed in in FMCSRs or OOSC, it’s not a violation.

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C9Midnite@reddit

Eeeehhhhh some of you guys do make shit up lol. A coworker got warning for a 20% air leak out of a brake chamber on top of some electrical tape rub on a airline at a fitting. Did the static and applied test twice and didn’t lose air pressure and there was no audible air leak but apparently the officer felt a breeze. And this was a dude that was DOT trained and regional safety out east for a 4K power unit outfit.

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orbak@reddit

I wasn’t arguing that some of inspectors make shit up, and that was actually precisely my point - people in my field of work need to stop making shit up just because they “feel” like something is wrong. I try to train that mentality out of my guys any chance I get, because it does exactly what you are describing - ruins the credibility for everyone else. If youre putting it on a report, make sure it’s legally defensible.

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dewky@reddit

That and inoperative parking brakes are the most common by far.

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KatieTSO@reddit

Bad parking brakes on a box truck scares me

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CurrentSummer1136@reddit

GSP will pit the fuck out of you for this one.

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Pale-Contest-340@reddit

Youre an idiot

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Vast-Yak-8713@reddit

Nope

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NegusTyGaming-YPSTFU@reddit

Box truck drivers are gay

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Psyche_Mike@reddit (OP)

Yes, and?

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NegusTyGaming-YPSTFU@reddit

Babyyyyy box truck

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Psyche_Mike@reddit (OP)

Congratulations 👍

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NegusTyGaming-YPSTFU@reddit

Babyyyyy box truck

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Ornery_Ads@reddit

That stick might be a violation if it's rubbing on something... I don't see what else would be a violation, though

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Economy_Side9662@reddit

That wood there is to space the box off the frame so it's not metal on metal. The ends of the wood are cut like that by design. It's got frame flex. If you load it heavy the frame will curve and the angled cut allows for the wood not to break and it distributes the weight better.

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madtowntripper@reddit

I definitely had a truck put OOS for this piece of wood being fucked but it was way worse than yours.

This was also in Texas a couple of month ago during the CMV push they were doing, so ymmv.

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