3 Things Fleet Managers Must Know About DOT Interventions

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is a small government agency with a lot of power. Some would likely say too much power. Trucking is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the USA.

The FMCSA, as a branch of the Department of Transportation (DOT), can make life miserable for fleet managers and independent operators who neglect preventive maintenance (PM) and safety standards.

#1 — It Can Be Costly

Besides the threat of fines totaling tens of thousands of dollars, there’s also the possibility of a fleet-wide out-of-service (OOS) order. Nothing spells financial disaster more than not being able to move any cargo.

However, a high Safety Measurement System (SMS) percentile could mean every vehicle using your DOT number could get pulled in for inspection at every open weigh station. That could lead to multiple missed delivery deadlines.

Missed deadlines lead to a loss of trust and confidence such that your clients will soon find another method to move their goods.

#2 — Poor Maintenance More Often Leads to an Audit Than Tickets

Although traffic tickets and careless driving can lead to higher Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) severity points and more frequent occurrences will multiply these with time-weights, the same is true for maintenance shortcomings found at roadside inspections and weigh stations.

Neglected brake adjustments, blown light bulbs, thin tire treads, and others will rack up CSA points quickly. When a fleet’s SMS percentile exceeds 75, every truck using its DOT number will get pulled in for inspection. This often results in a catch-22 scenario.

More inspections often mean more CSA severity points. Any CSVA inspector worth their salt can find shortcomings on a big rig—even a new one. Plus, when you’re pulled in for inspection, your truck is weighed and the logs are scrutinized; additionally, a fatigued driver could be put OOS.

#3 — Your Drivers Can & Do File Complaints

Many fleet managers will try to push maintenance out a little further to save a few dollars immediately. However, pushing maintenance off usually results in more significant roadside repairs.

What’s more, when you ignore a driver’s request for repairs, you are putting their lives in danger. They will report you, and the FMCSA makes it easy to file an anonymous complaint about those drivers you passed over for the best money-making routes.

Don’t forget that the CVSA International Roadchecks are from May 17-19, 2022.