Emphasizing vehicle maintenance | Safe SolutionsHarry Dietz
Roofing contractors face some unique challenges to keep their
drivers and the public safe when transporting materials, equipment
and personnel to and from job sites. And insurance companies that
insure construction industry clientele report vehicle-related
claims remain major liability exposures in the roofing industry.
Clearly, proper training, supervision and discipline of company
drivers are foundational elements of any comprehensive fleet safety
program. However, one of the most neglected requirements of a
program intended to ensure safe operation of commercial vehicles is
the driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR).
DVIRs
The requirements for a daily DVIR are contained in Title 49 Code
of Federal Regulations Part 396 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations (FMCSR). The rules essentially codify regular
inspection, repair and maintenance procedures to be followed for
all commercial vehicles. For this purpose, a commercial motor
vehicle is defined as any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle
used on a highway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or
property and having a gross vehicle weight rating, gross
combination weight rating, gross vehicle weight or gross
combination weight of 10,001 pounds (4536 kg) or more.
Additionally, the rules apply to any vehicle, regardless of weight,
used in the transportation of quantities of hazardous materials
subject to placard rules.
FMCSR compel a company to require its drivers to prepare a
written report, the DVIR, at the end of the day for each commercial
vehicle the driver operated during the day. At a minimum, the DVIR
must contain information about each of the following 11
vehicle...
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