Key Facts About Vehicle Inspections

Vehicle Inspections (DVIRs) are a legal requirement in the United States. Carriers must keep DVIRs on-site for three months from the date the report is submitted.

If a commercial vehicle fails an inspection, it can be removed immediately from the roads until the repair is complete. An out-of-service truck can cost a carrier $861 on average, not including any fines or repairs (CSA).

More than 3.5 million roadside safety inspections are conducted annually (FMCSA).

Almost 15 trucks or buses are inspected every minute in North America during the annual International Roadcheck.

FMCSA estimates that commercial vehicle roadside inspections and programs prevented 9,000 injuries and 14,000 crashes.

DVIR Regulations

In the United States, completing a driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) is a requirement based on federal regulations 49 CFR §396.11. Vehicle inspection rules also exist in other countries and jurisdictions, such as the province of Ontario in Canada.

In 2014, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rescinded the requirement for drivers to submit an inspection report if no defects or deficiencies are found.

The decision to rescind the regulation does not apply to passenger-carrying vehicles. A pre- and post-inspection report must be submitted and carriers must retain the records (§396.3 Inspection, repair, and maintenance).