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Its a double edge sword, the quotas are there to make sure officers do what they are paid to do. Its meant to keep officers on their toes and not sitting around the office on taxpayer's money. OTOH many departments are also using it to push the officers on the ground to achieve performance rates so their dept look good and dont come under scrutiny from an oversight board who may think they are slacking. I've done both, as inspection officer and a trucker so I can see the inconvience of 2 sides, trust me, most officers wish they dont have quotas coz its just unnecessary stress thats always hanging over their heads.
A necessary evil I remember back in the late 70’s and early 80’s that there was an awful lot of “tired iron” running up and down the highways that would never pass a DOT inspection today if just for a safety stance
I've always support law enforcement officers but I can't deny the harassment level of DOT sometimes is extreme. I was pulled over 5 times in the same state even after going through a Level 1 at the scale on the same day. (Note: I never go over the speed limit and always have everything in order)
I feel like keeping my tires aired up, fluids topped off, and fifth wheel greased is more important than keeping the truck washed. I don't have time to wait in line for 2 hours at a Blue Beacon.
I'm with you there. My dad was an operator running quad dump truck he made sure his truck was greased and all everything. He even did his own brake jobs.
I got pulled in at Prosser, Wa..... I keep my truck super clean and I’m clean cut, everything legit...no shit on the dash.... after a brief discussion, review of paperwork and license, he sent me out with a clean inspection. He didn’t even request my logs. I asked what the trigger was, to pull me in, he very matter of fact said, “My shift is almost up, and I knew you would be clean”.
Its fkd up because this is how we make a living for our families and 1 ticket is enough for us tp lose everything. Quotas for goverment officials should be illegal
Yes, you need to be better. If it was not for truckers who drive dangerous trucks, use multiple logs, and improperly secure their loads then there would not be so much of your so-called harassment.
One DOT officer told me he prefers to pull over large companies because they have compliance officers working with them and they have money so they shouldn't have issues on their trucks. He also told me he doesn't ticket little guys only big corporate companies 🤷♂️🤷♂️.
Same thing in he pest control industry,we are governed by our state agriculture depts.same deal large corporates like ormin ,terminix etc get overly regulated but the vast majority of the small companies only get the annual reviews unless of course someone does something really stupid to force the regulators to get involved
Last week I had one of my drivers pulled into the rainbow scales in so cal. The truck was a 2015 cascadia day cab in nice condition. He was hauling 60 foot rebar on a 48 foot flatbed that at first glance would look like a ticket magnet. So the officer does his inspection and isn't very happy that once under the truck and trailer he finds everything in perfect condition. I rebuild our trailers ground up with all updated technology but I don't spend money on paint lol. In the end he gave my driver a ticket for a marker light being out but refused to let my driver out of the truck to confirm the issue since everything was fine on his pre trip. I checked in out when he got to the yard and couldn't find anything wrong with it. I think dot officer's are definitely just trying to look like they're working.
@@theTrend7 all lights were working properly. No repair was necessary. From what the driver told me the officer seemed to be upset when my driver asked to see the problem the officer started to grill him, he even questioned him about wearing eye glasses but it wasn't stipulated on his license. I'm not sure what the problem was and I do have driver's that would make me question the validity of the story but this particular driver does a very thorough job of reporting defects on his pre and post trip so that and the fact that i couldn't find anything wrong with it leads me to believe this officer may of been having a bad day or maybe he was trying to meet some kind of quota.
Retired now from the road. Met many inspectors. One a good guy stopped me in South Fla. Checked my truck nothing wrong, well one lower running light had a cracked lenses. He said he needed to write up some trucks. Asked if he could write me up for bad light. Told him okay. Made his day. He told a State trooper one could eat off the frame of our trucks. Many times waving me to stop recognizing the tractor waved me on. This was back in the late 80s. Now many are pains in the butt. Trying to be nice. CB - COUNTRY PREACHER.
I was a former commercial vehicle inspector. It was the highlight of my career in law enforcement. Not only did it allow me to use my skill as a former mechanic but I was able to take unsafe drivers and trucks off the road before they injured or killed themselves or other people. The majority of truck and bus drivers respected what we did. I’ve seen mismatched brake chambers. Intermodal containers sliding off of flatbed trucks cracked rims brakes out of adjustment and countless other violations that were considered out of service. Yes. I agree there are some DOT inspectors that are out looking for the easy inspections to do just the minimum to keep their certification or keep the supervisor off their back. But many are just in it to make it safer for everyone. I’ve had drivers tell me hey look I’ve been trying to get this item fixed on this truck for months. They’d show me the pre trip. Sure enough it’s there. Once it’s on the fed report. The company has to fix it. That’s working together. I use to let drivers use my tools to adjust brakes to get back in service or let them call a service truck if they could get there in a reasonable amount of time. Just like many of My cohorts. And yes. Drivers have told me of horror stories of being inspected. Stay safe out there. Drivers and law enforcement.
You would have had a shit hemmorage if you saw what I saw the other day. Police called us to tow a disabled semi with a blown steer tire. It ripped a coolant pipe off or they probably would have called a tire service. I was lifting and blocking the truck to be able to get clearance to hook it up when I noticed the remaining steer tire had the inside two ribs burned right off it and a shit ton of cords exposed. He had ran something over (was yellow paint under bumper) and bent the tie rod toeing the steers out. I told him "your steering is fucked, that's why your tire blew" and he replied "no, no sir, steering fine, no problem" Lucky it was 1am cause when it blew it took him into the oncoming lane for 100'
The same should be done for 4wheelers they're the ones causing the accidents! Every cop should drive with a trucker to see what we deal with on daily basis. It should be mandatory.
@@TheTruelakersfan and every four wheeler drive should ride with a truck so they can see exactly how they operate. I worked for a farm service company that was notorious for running junk. They wouldn't fix anything. You could write it on the daily report and the boss would initial it like it was fixed. Or he would make out new reports. A guy got pulled over one day a d it snowballed from there. He told the DOT officer that we didn't have a safe truck on the road.
I was once given a ticket by the DOT. I could tell the officer was a nice guy so I asked him to let me off with a warning. But he admitted he can't because they have a quota to fill.
When I drove for Knight, I was in the midwest during the winter and my truck got to looking like crap. I'd planned on running it through the trailer wash at the Phoenix terminal before taking the next load into L.A. because I knew I would get pulled into the I10 scale. The trailer wash was out of order so I said heck with it. The I10 scale was doing they're big inspection day with extra lights and tents set up. Sure enough, I got pulled in. They did a level 3 inspection which I passed but the DOT officer wasn't happy getting all dirty and finding nothing wrong. He actually didn't want to give me the inspection sticker. He reluctantly slapped it on my windshield and told me to have a good trip. I just smiled and told him thank you.
I was a CDL instructor and I showed my students a video of a Tennessee DOT officer teaching civilian employees how to perform a Level 1 inspection. It's one of the best videos I've seen for teaching what DOT officers are looking for.
Decades ago I was a simi truck mechanic. We always went over & especially under all our tractors with steam cleaner before they left the yard. This is 1980's. We learned that the scales love clean trucks. As the fleet grew older we blasted them even more. !
I sincerely appreciate a single person being honest. At the same time, we work rough lives that most people cannot comprehend, and the feds are targeting people that work hard instead of people that don't work, and live off of people that work hard (corona money)... I've got friends that haven't dipped into their personal unemployment because they're living off of Corona money and "why get a job when I get paid more to not break my back "... but hard working people are the real threat to harass?
@@lennychorn147 actually it is. Believe it or not. The government see truck driving as unskilled labour.. Why do you think the UK government are offering what they think are good wages to bring driver's from Europe back to England. Basically the UK government are cunts and always will be.. An BORRIS Johnson is the biggest one of them all..
@@tonysilliker5977 shit europe with their automatic cabover that i would say it takes no skill. But drive a Pete 18 speed up and down the rockies in winter... that takes skill bud
I think they are what my dad called " a necessary evil" without them the cowboys take over and the gear is just dangerous and the driving hours are an accident waiting to happen, it would be great if all truckers did the right thing, not overload, keep driving hours safe, keep trucks maintained but reality is there are always those willing to try and beat the system and risk everything thinking they make their fortune at others expense
If drivers don't want any tickets. Drivers need to make sure their truck is road worthy. And no excuses. You drive it and you know that you're truck is not up to par. That is on the driver. If you're company haves bad equipment. That is your choice to drive for them. No excuses. Own it.
Not DOT related but a friend of mine is an FHP trooper and he told me something similar. There are no quotas per say but he has to make a certain amount of contacts everyday whether its issuing tickets or working an accident.
Yep,I've had the same FHP pull me over at a rest area outside Milton,FL 4 times so far for a level 1. We know each other on a name basis at this point,he's told me he is just meeting his quota,in January this year it was 32 inspections per officer in his area.
Thanks for your honesty. So we are all human and have a job to do. Pulled at the scale for an elog review. Had to answer a few questions about my PC. Asked the officer on some advice to stay in compliance. He said the less questions you make me ask you the quicker these inspections go. Good advice be safe out there
Truck drivers normally have cash or quick access to it,They don’t have time to come back and fight a charge. It’s bull crap. He’s singing to the choir.Now tell us something we don’t know.
Wtf are you crying about? Very few DOT violations ever result in actual cash fines,stop fucking lying,you sound like a moron. Marker lights, chafed airlines, low tire pressure, frame cracks, none of these are monetary fines, stop telling truckstop stories. Overweight, logbook and speeding are citations that carry a monetary penalty. Lmfao, you're comment is absolutely bullshit.
Being a truck driver is one the most stressful out there in my opinion. You have to deal with harassment from law enforcements, heavy fines for trivial offenses, ambulance chasers lawyers and being exploited by big companies. I remember getting a fine for a violation in Louisiana during an inspection. One of my 18 tires wasn’t at the right air pressure. My company got fined 1000 dollars, I had to pay half of it. My tire wasn’t flat or anything. Just low pressure.
Good info. Love the kid on the minibike. Saw the orange and blue Rollin transport truck parked next to you on the NYS thruway near Rochester a couple months ago.
I appreciate what he laid down and I think we all mostly suspected that what he said is the way they operate.. But also I dodge the damn scales like a plague with a 1993 IH eagle and a 92 Frehauf stepdeck with 100 little things wrong..
Probably because dump trucks are always in rough locations to say the least, so they probably have some sort of minor damage underneath That's just my guess. Straight trucks, who knows tf why
Dump trucks get beat to shit so they can always find something wrong with them. I used to own a belly dump company and my guys got targeted all the time because its really hard to keep up with all the maintenance on vehicles that take so much abuse and the cops know that so they're easy money to them.
Been running dumps for 35 years, the reason they go after dumps especially straight trucks is because they suspect they are running heavy. They pull you over and say they're going to inspect you and then before you know it the portable scales show up.
Thanks for the replies. What you guys say makes sense. Ive also heard rumors that they target box trucks a lot because it's usually a fast inspection and there's less on a box truck to check for DOT.
I've been driving for over 25 years and 99% of that has been hauling heavy equipment! In the beginning I worked for let's say some shady companies and always got harassed by the DOT!!! Now I work for an equipment dealer who keeps our trucks clean mechanically sound and all our permits up and have been told by DOT officers we don't mess with you because y'all have your sh!t together!!!!
as someone who drives a 01 strait truck moving "furniture" I am pretty happy its weekends off for a reset so I dont have to fumble my paper logs ever. but this is also 100% why I stop at fresh air bbq on a trip to macon. been delayed at that scale too may times for probably this exact reason.
I remember when i started trucking back in 98. The instructer for the company orientation class, told us he had been a state trooper but he had seen the light, so he came over to the right side.
And I've had boot lickers in the trucking industry play that line of: 'Just obey the law". If they have a quota to meet how can doing just that prevent tickets?
In the 70s I had a govt contract hauling Refer Mail from Atlanta to Phoenix no logs and dot exempt . I kept 5 log books 1 I got paid by 4 I cheated in damn I miss the good old days.
Best way use backroads and you will be relax , but make sure you know the route because if not you will be hitting a bridge or collapsing one for weight.
Good plan but you need to understand they don't even NEED a reason to inspect... I used to drive a company owned F550 Superduty with a service bed with my tools (never any cargo) I've been pulled over while driving at highway speed by MSP and given a 30min random roadside level 2, I've had one Level 1 that took 90min and also a Level 1 that was complete in 15min, and I've also had a Level2 that took place on the scale at closing time that took under 60seconds and I was back on the road. My point is to say, that inspections happen whenever and wherever without making much sense, and certainly no "Reason " required... after all this is government where sense, reason, and obviously intelligence doesn't matter!
A question Is it lawful to pull an inspection on a truck in a truck stop. I was pulled over for an inspection one time, he looked at the rear end and said it was cracked. I wiped all the dirt off it and said it was a manufactured seam. He had it towed with a full load of asphalt. Further inspection at the tow company confirm the seam. They didn't charge me for the tow, but I lost the day and the asphalt.
50 years OTR here. 1998 379 PETE flatbed. My experience has been while static weigh, while stopped, no dripping oil on scales, no audible air leaks, DOT required load securement, good rubber and good fleet ratings (They run your MC #) are most helpful. However, you may be selected as a random inspection
I was pulled over by NC State Trooper just so he could make his DOT Truck check quota. He didnt give me a ticket, but he was real nice and got me in and out.
Thank you very much for getting guy to open up. After all it's up to us truckers to make sure we are safe. YES it's a quota game. But who is doing that. Not the officer ( DOT) inspection it's the Government game. Remember why this started to get so Bad. There were bus drivers, not doing inspection on there busses. Flat tire or bald tires. Accident happens. Bad ones, with passage caring CDL requirements. I myself have keep up my CDL, a health test every Year for me. BP meds. Lots of the questions are about SLEEP apthany. I only drive now a contract wildlands Tender, under Private contract to Federal Government, for Forest Fires Just drive for there Training. Myself I own a 71 SeaGrave Engine I am restoring, but it still require a CDL, over 26000 pounds, has air brakes. I use to worked with a guy who always wanted to drive the Dump Trucks at my job. I kid you not. The guy would fall ASLEEP at a red light stop, believe it or not. I was afraid to ride with him. It was a day driver job, so we were not STOPPED and inspecded all the time like over the freeway drivers. We have to look at are self's to start with. Like the former DOT guy said does your truck look like a mess of problem's. I do feel for the poor guy's moving containers from port to port's that are close together. The guy might not have a newer truck. Just trying to make a small living for himself Still the Government does NOT care. Just look at the Emissions requirements to even get on port property. You MUST meet Ter- 4 or more on Diesel engine. I am so glad the guy opened up. Great learning listening to him. Thank you for your series.
Oh yeah, I had a Texas D.O.T tell me the same thing. Officer told me he been looking for me all day. No hazmat all day for 8 hrs till I show up. Level 1 inspection . Clean inspection
One thing I'm learning is that there is such thing as "Freedom" in trucking. I've worked in banking and construction, two highly regulated industries, and they are nothing compared to trucking.
I was pulled over in July and the inspector told me had to do 40 inspections that day I was number 38. He pulled me over his words because I was driving a Ram and didn't have airbrakes. He didn't want to crawl under a big truck to check brakes. He was cool I even joked that I thought he was a pissed off UPS driver because of his brown van.
I was watching a German reality show called "Achtung Kontrolle" which deals with law enforcement's (and other government agencies) interactions with the public. One episode dealt with the German equivalent of DOT inspectors and commercial drivers over there. Because of the European Union allowing citizens from anywhere in an EU member country to live and work anywhere in the bloc, the inspectors have to deal with a handful of drivers who don't speak German or English. The worst violators over there usually hail from Eastern Europe.
Keep your windshield and rims clean! Used to drive an 85 Mack and got stopped a lot! Until they learned I took care of my truck. One TXDOT inspector told me always keep your wheels and rims clean.
I served 21 years as a CHP Commercial Auditor. 20 years as an Owner Operator, hauling Flatbed-steel and Reefer-produce. THERE ARE NO QUOTAS IN CALIFORNIA, Just annual required completed inspections to maintain your Certification as a Federally Trained Inspector.
Yeah I had one tell me I was his las truck of the day just asked me if anything was wrong with the truck I said no and I got a clean inspection.. he didn't even inspection or nothing we had a good conversation and I kept on my way on personal conveyance..
If you keep your truck in good order, you will not have anything to worry about. In over 40 years as a owner/operator, I can not tell you how many D.O.T. inspections I've been through. Always passed and no tickets. They did point out a few potential problems and I was glad, so that I could get them fixed before they could become big problems! Myself, I'm glad D.O.T. is out there inspecting trucks. The big problem is the drivers attitudes of "its them against us".
Drove for 30 yrs and retired. Drove for big company, got inspected a few times, officers have said they picked me for the easy inspection knowing it would be clean.
Reading just a few of the other comments when it comes to paint it can get very expensive especially with all the new paint regulations that helped drive up the cost of the paint itself. In some businesses clients may base a decision to contract with You based on the appearance of Trucks and equipment. The reasoning being that attention to detail can be expected. In other types of work like freight hauling where clients are more apt to have easy access to histories I can see where paint becomes less important and exorbitant when considering the numbers in a fleet, their useful lifetime and the industry being at the mercy of ever changing laws and arbitration.
I agree with most of what he said. As a heavy duty mechanic at a independent garage. I got pretty good at spotting out of service trucks when they pulled in the parking lot. If it was a older truck and dirty it almost always failed a dot inspection. If it was clean and in good general appearance You most likely wasn't going to find anything wrong with it
hauled sulfuric acid in the southwest for 15 years 15 years ago, no new highways in 30 years, double the traffic!!!Now I run a 16 Pete water truck on 1000 acre ranch, retired truckers dream job, off road truckin!!!!
As a class B cdl driver, I make a habit of going around scales due to DOT picking on us 24/7. If I ever do run into one, it's never near a weigh station, and they always just check my paperwork, and lights only.
I finally figured out why my company's new Vac Truck keeps getting pulled into the weigh station near me... I was literally in a line of 3 different trucks I was last and the Vac truck in front of me. They let the first guy go, pulled the vac truck, then let me go. They must want a quick inspection on the brand new vac truck. I get back to our shop and told the supervisor laughing about it and he said they'd been pulling the vac truck in regularly lol
I drove a double fuel tanker in California...ALWAYS got pulled in at scales... watched duct - taped crap trucks from L.A. harbor go right through 5 at a time while they spent an hour or more trying to get me for SOMETHING....ANYTHING....
Everything the former officer says here I have always believed to be true. Now I have his confirmation of the truth, which I had previously presumed. Thank you for bringing this to us -- *FINALLY* -- Alex!! 👍🏽😎👍🏽💯
if u run a road on a time schedule same days a week, d.o.t will know when u pass them. was stopped for level 1 and he knew what time I passed him on outbound trip.
I had already known this. Trinidad, CO; got pulled in for inspection and the DOT office told me they are required to inspect a minimum of 9 trucks per 8 hour shift.
He needs to realize logs are a joke just because you have I log violation doesnt mean your tired it's just a control and regulation tool I drove since 1973 I hauled cattle I had 1 cop try and put me out of service for being over length in the middle of summer one call to the humane animal control and I was back rolling Dot likes to falsify things like when they were cought in California for backing brakes off and loosening bolts
John knows more about logs and auditing logs than anyone I know. He knows what’s bs and how the best guys on paper logs actually hide things. The thing is when FMCSA inspectors are auditing logs it’s what they can PROVE is a violation. So they look at all your time stamps fuel, tolls, lumper receipts, dot inspections, accident reports, etc. Then they just glance at your logs. If time stamps don’t line up then boom you’re screwed. If they cannot find anything wrong there then they start looking at your logs and your HOS to make sure there’s no violations there. It the opposite of a roadside inspection.
I drive a clean new truck that I own and maintain. Got pulled into a California scale house a couple months ago for a level 1. In the stall next to me a DOT officer was arguing with a driver who had an older dirty truck and spoke very little English. My DOT officer couldn't stop chuckling at it. He took my license and ran it through the computer. Put a nice sticker in my window, and I was out of there in 5 minutes with a level 1 on my record. I was very happy.
For information about financing your first semi truck or trailer? I have videos that will help you get the information you need! Click⬇️
www.thefundingbooth.com/muthatrucker
Hey Mutha Truckers! I worked a deal with the Meca Chrome Shop. For The Asian Mai Show Subscribers only! Any truck accessories that you need. Meca will give you the best discount possible to Mutha Truckers. Just ask for Mike and they will hook you up! They ship all across the nation. Call Mike@ 9547918355. ***Disclaimer*** I am not making money from this. I just want to bring as much value to the show as possible. www.mecatruckchrome.com/
Follow The Asian Mai Show for information about trucking. We provide interviews, paystubs, and inside information that will help you in your trucking career from buying/financing a truck or trailer to find a trucking school or job that is going to get you to your next level in trucking. theasianmaishow.com/
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Wow Alex really good video bro.
It should be illegal to have quotas for police, DOT, and other agencies
A quota for a number of inspections I think would be ok, a quota for found violations definitely no
Should be but guess what ain’t shit going to Change in the world humans are scum and too stupid
@@ogkobebrown7801 I concur with your assessment of said humans.
Its a double edge sword, the quotas are there to make sure officers do what they are paid to do. Its meant to keep officers on their toes and not sitting around the office on taxpayer's money.
OTOH many departments are also using it to push the officers on the ground to achieve performance rates so their dept look good and dont come under scrutiny from an oversight board who may think they are slacking.
I've done both, as inspection officer and a trucker so I can see the inconvience of 2 sides, trust me, most officers wish they dont have quotas coz its just unnecessary stress thats always hanging over their heads.
A necessary evil
I remember back in the late 70’s and early 80’s that there was an awful lot of “tired iron” running up and down the highways that would never pass a DOT inspection today if just for a safety stance
We truckers should stop our trucks for a week so they can see how they will do without us. The level of harassment we deal with is unbelievable.
That would be a dream Ill never see
I remember a nationwide strike in 1979. It can be done.
@@waterheaterservices Drivers that didn't strike were shot at.
Fix your truck f ck.
I've always support law enforcement officers but I can't deny the harassment level of DOT sometimes is extreme. I was pulled over 5 times in the same state even after going through a Level 1 at the scale on the same day. (Note: I never go over the speed limit and always have everything in order)
I feel like keeping my tires aired up, fluids topped off, and fifth wheel greased is more important than keeping the truck washed. I don't have time to wait in line for 2 hours at a Blue Beacon.
I'm with you there.
My dad was an operator running quad dump truck he made sure his truck was greased and all everything.
He even did his own brake jobs.
I got pulled in at Prosser, Wa..... I keep my truck super clean and I’m clean cut, everything legit...no shit on the dash.... after a brief discussion, review of paperwork and license, he sent me out with a clean inspection. He didn’t even request my logs. I asked what the trigger was, to pull me in, he very matter of fact said, “My shift is almost up, and I knew you would be clean”.
They did same to me there in prosser.
Bull shot
3:17
Something needs to be done about this kind of harassment against Truckers that's driving to make a living.
Its fkd up because this is how we make a living for our families and 1 ticket is enough for us tp lose everything. Quotas for goverment officials should be illegal
🤣🤣
Get your shit together or get out
Yes, you need to be better. If it was not for truckers who drive dangerous trucks, use multiple logs, and improperly secure their loads then there would not be so much of your so-called harassment.
@@josephhodges9819 We cannot run multiple logs...The industry uses electronic logs...You definitely know nothing about trucking.
Definitely want to be safe on the CRAPPY ROADS especially in CALIFORNIA!!
I pray I never touch the west side of the cali. State line .
@@hosslane320 you Sir are a smart man.
Thank you thank you thank you we needed to hear this "THE TRUTH"
Are you a rookie? Nothing said is unknown.
So everyone knew this probably since the 90s maybe even earlier. Yet it’s irrelevant until someone says it’s true?
Dot is a business. Here to make money so I am not surprised at all.
You didn't know?
One DOT officer told me he prefers to pull over large companies because they have compliance officers working with them and they have money so they shouldn't have issues on their trucks. He also told me he doesn't ticket little guys only big corporate companies 🤷♂️🤷♂️.
Same thing in he pest control industry,we are governed by our state agriculture depts.same deal large corporates like ormin ,terminix etc get overly regulated but the vast majority of the small companies only get the annual reviews unless of course someone does something really stupid to force the regulators to get involved
Last week I had one of my drivers pulled into the rainbow scales in so cal. The truck was a 2015 cascadia day cab in nice condition. He was hauling 60 foot rebar on a 48 foot flatbed that at first glance would look like a ticket magnet. So the officer does his inspection and isn't very happy that once under the truck and trailer he finds everything in perfect condition. I rebuild our trailers ground up with all updated technology but I don't spend money on paint lol. In the end he gave my driver a ticket for a marker light being out but refused to let my driver out of the truck to confirm the issue since everything was fine on his pre trip. I checked in out when he got to the yard and couldn't find anything wrong with it. I think dot officer's are definitely just trying to look like they're working.
Did he indeed have a marker light out? Also, what was the reason for not letting him out?
@@theTrend7. If you read his comment you'll see he answered both of your questions.
@@theTrend7 all lights were working properly. No repair was necessary. From what the driver told me the officer seemed to be upset when my driver asked to see the problem the officer started to grill him, he even questioned him about wearing eye glasses but it wasn't stipulated on his license. I'm not sure what the problem was and I do have driver's that would make me question the validity of the story but this particular driver does a very thorough job of reporting defects on his pre and post trip so that and the fact that i couldn't find anything wrong with it leads me to believe this officer may of been having a bad day or maybe he was trying to meet some kind of quota.
@@mattsmith817 how many trucks do you have? I want to be a fleet owner some day.
@@chaytonhurlow840 I manage a fleet of 34 trucks and 300 flat bed trailers. I don't own them.
Retired now from the road. Met many inspectors. One a good guy stopped me in South Fla. Checked my truck nothing wrong, well one lower running light had a cracked lenses. He said he needed to write up some trucks. Asked if he could write me up for bad light. Told him okay. Made his day. He told a State trooper one could eat off the frame of our trucks. Many times waving me to stop recognizing the tractor waved me on. This was back in the late 80s. Now many are pains in the butt. Trying to be nice. CB - COUNTRY PREACHER.
I was a former commercial vehicle inspector. It was the highlight of my career in law enforcement. Not only did it allow me to use my skill as a former mechanic but I was able to take unsafe drivers and trucks off the road before they injured or killed themselves or other people. The majority of truck and bus drivers respected what we did. I’ve seen mismatched brake chambers. Intermodal containers sliding off of flatbed trucks cracked rims brakes out of adjustment and countless other violations that were considered out of service. Yes. I agree there are some DOT inspectors that are out looking for the easy inspections to do just the minimum to keep their certification or keep the supervisor off their back. But many are just in it to make it safer for everyone. I’ve had drivers tell me hey look I’ve been trying to get this item fixed on this truck for months. They’d show me the pre trip. Sure enough it’s there. Once it’s on the fed report. The company has to fix it. That’s working together. I use to let drivers use my tools to adjust brakes to get back in service or let them call a service truck if they could get there in a reasonable amount of time. Just like many of
My cohorts. And yes. Drivers have told me of horror stories of being inspected. Stay safe out there. Drivers and law enforcement.
You would have had a shit hemmorage if you saw what I saw the other day. Police called us to tow a disabled semi with a blown steer tire. It ripped a coolant pipe off or they probably would have called a tire service.
I was lifting and blocking the truck to be able to get clearance to hook it up when I noticed the remaining steer tire had the inside two ribs burned right off it and a shit ton of cords exposed.
He had ran something over (was yellow paint under bumper) and bent the tie rod toeing the steers out.
I told him "your steering is fucked, that's why your tire blew" and he replied "no, no sir, steering fine, no problem"
Lucky it was 1am cause when it blew it took him into the oncoming lane for 100'
There is always that one one "Barney Fife " out there who is just determined to be a complete asswipe
Thank you for the sacrifice for humanity 🙏
The same should be done for 4wheelers they're the ones causing the accidents! Every cop should drive with a trucker to see what we deal with on daily basis. It should be mandatory.
@@TheTruelakersfan and every four wheeler drive should ride with a truck so they can see exactly how they operate.
I worked for a farm service company that was notorious for running junk. They wouldn't fix anything. You could write it on the daily report and the boss would initial it like it was fixed. Or he would make out new reports. A guy got pulled over one day a d it snowballed from there. He told the DOT officer that we didn't have a safe truck on the road.
I was once given a ticket by the DOT. I could tell the officer was a nice guy so I asked him to let me off with a warning. But he admitted he can't because they have a quota to fill.
< let me off with a warning. But he admitted he can't because they have a quota to fill.> while hard-core violators get off scot-free
When I drove for Knight, I was in the midwest during the winter and my truck got to looking like crap. I'd planned on running it through the trailer wash at the Phoenix terminal before taking the next load into L.A. because I knew I would get pulled into the I10 scale. The trailer wash was out of order so I said heck with it. The I10 scale was doing they're big inspection day with extra lights and tents set up. Sure enough, I got pulled in. They did a level 3 inspection which I passed but the DOT officer wasn't happy getting all dirty and finding nothing wrong. He actually didn't want to give me the inspection sticker. He reluctantly slapped it on my windshield and told me to have a good trip. I just smiled and told him thank you.
Moral of the story keep your shit clean, do your pretrip & keep your paperwork in order & you'll be good
Moral of the story is fuck smokey
Moral of the story they can do anything with you
@@СтепанБандера-ы8у can't argue wit that
They’ll still find something if they look hard enough
You'll be good... until you're not!
I was a CDL instructor and I showed my students a video of a Tennessee DOT officer teaching civilian employees how to perform a Level 1 inspection. It's one of the best videos I've seen for teaching what DOT officers are looking for.
And companies wondering why no one want to drive a truck anymore...there you go.
I appreciate the Ex-DOT officer candor
Decades ago I was a simi truck mechanic. We always went
over & especially under all our tractors with steam cleaner
before they left the yard. This is 1980's. We learned that the
scales love clean trucks. As the fleet grew older we blasted
them even more.
!
You never know what to expect when you get stopped for an inspection.
I sincerely appreciate a single person being honest. At the same time, we work rough lives that most people cannot comprehend, and the feds are targeting people that work hard instead of people that don't work, and live off of people that work hard (corona money)... I've got friends that haven't dipped into their personal unemployment because they're living off of Corona money and "why get a job when I get paid more to not break my back "... but hard working people are the real threat to harass?
Thats a Democrat/communist problem, not a trucking problem, but you are correct. And you are an unskilled laborer, you know
@@melvinrexwinkle1510 Bullshit. Being a commercial truck driver, is NOT an unskilled laborer job.
@@lennychorn147 actually it is. Believe it or not. The government see truck driving as unskilled labour.. Why do you think the UK government are offering what they think are good wages to bring driver's from Europe back to England. Basically the UK government are cunts and always will be..
An BORRIS Johnson is the biggest one of them all..
@@tonysilliker5977 That may be true across the pond. But in the U.S. it is very much considered a professional skilled job.
@@tonysilliker5977 shit europe with their automatic cabover that i would say it takes no skill. But drive a Pete 18 speed up and down the rockies in winter... that takes skill bud
The Asian Mai show ALWAYS delivers the TRUTH. You are heaven sent. Thank you for getting the former DOT guy in front of camera to spill the beans.
I think they are what my dad called " a necessary evil" without them the cowboys take over and the gear is just dangerous and the driving hours are an accident waiting to happen, it would be great if all truckers did the right thing, not overload, keep driving hours safe, keep trucks maintained but reality is there are always those willing to try and beat the system and risk everything thinking they make their fortune at others expense
If drivers don't want any tickets. Drivers need to make sure their truck is road worthy. And no excuses. You drive it and you know that you're truck is not up to par. That is on the driver. If you're company haves bad equipment. That is your choice to drive for them. No excuses. Own it.
Not DOT related but a friend of mine is an FHP trooper and he told me something similar. There are no quotas per say but he has to make a certain amount of contacts everyday whether its issuing tickets or working an accident.
Yep,I've had the same FHP pull me over at a rest area outside Milton,FL 4 times so far for a level 1. We know each other on a name basis at this point,he's told me he is just meeting his quota,in January this year it was 32 inspections per officer in his area.
Thanks for your honesty. So we are all human and have a job to do. Pulled at the scale for an elog review. Had to answer a few questions about my PC. Asked the officer on some advice to stay in compliance. He said the less questions you make me ask you the quicker these inspections go.
Good advice be safe out there
An this why their is fewer good drivers cause their tired of the b. S.
That actually was pretty informative. Can you get that guy back on for a full interview?
I have zero issue with what he said.
Truck drivers normally have cash or quick access to it,They don’t have time to come back and fight a charge. It’s bull crap. He’s singing to the choir.Now tell us something we don’t know.
Wtf are you crying about? Very few DOT violations ever result in actual cash fines,stop fucking lying,you sound like a moron. Marker lights, chafed airlines, low tire pressure, frame cracks, none of these are monetary fines, stop telling truckstop stories. Overweight, logbook and speeding are citations that carry a monetary penalty. Lmfao, you're comment is absolutely bullshit.
Being a truck driver is one the most stressful out there in my opinion. You have to deal with harassment from law enforcements, heavy fines for trivial offenses, ambulance chasers lawyers and being exploited by big companies. I remember getting a fine for a violation in Louisiana during an inspection. One of my 18 tires wasn’t at the right air pressure. My company got fined 1000 dollars, I had to pay half of it. My tire wasn’t flat or anything. Just low pressure.
SAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY WHAT!
Good info. Love the kid on the minibike. Saw the orange and blue Rollin transport truck parked next to you on the NYS thruway near Rochester a couple months ago.
I appreciate what he laid down and I think we all mostly suspected that what he said is the way they operate.. But also I dodge the damn scales like a plague with a 1993 IH eagle and a 92 Frehauf stepdeck with 100 little things wrong..
And now you know more reason to avoid those bastards like the plague.
Little things wrong? Whats a little thing?
So fix your issues and you won't have a problem.
From what you just said, is why they're out there in the first place.
@@melvinrexwinkle1510 No such thing as a little thing wrong.
When I'm in Maryland and Virginia, DOT seems to really target the box trucks and dump trucks for some reason. I've always wondered why that is.
NY the same
Probably because dump trucks are always in rough locations to say the least, so they probably have some sort of minor damage underneath
That's just my guess. Straight trucks, who knows tf why
Dump trucks get beat to shit so they can always find something wrong with them. I used to own a belly dump company and my guys got targeted all the time because its really hard to keep up with all the maintenance on vehicles that take so much abuse and the cops know that so they're easy money to them.
Been running dumps for 35 years, the reason they go after dumps especially straight trucks is because they suspect they are running heavy. They pull you over and say they're going to inspect you and then before you know it the portable scales show up.
Thanks for the replies. What you guys say makes sense. Ive also heard rumors that they target box trucks a lot because it's usually a fast inspection and there's less on a box truck to check for DOT.
You will never have a fair system depending on the officers situation! Of course they HAVE to do inspections thats their job!
Law enforcement is the largest, richest, most protected extortion racket this country will ever see.
I've been driving for over 25 years and 99% of that has been hauling heavy equipment! In the beginning I worked for let's say some shady companies and always got harassed by the DOT!!! Now I work for an equipment dealer who keeps our trucks clean mechanically sound and all our permits up and have been told by DOT officers we don't mess with you because y'all have your sh!t together!!!!
I liked pulling a RGN .
Hard for them crawl under the trailer.
Lol.
as someone who drives a 01 strait truck moving "furniture" I am pretty happy its weekends off for a reset so I dont have to fumble my paper logs ever. but this is also 100% why I stop at fresh air bbq on a trip to macon. been delayed at that scale too may times for probably this exact reason.
Thx man my favorite trucking channel on the tube by far!!!!!
I always knew it ,, they're making the quota plus to please supervisors.
I remember when i started trucking back in 98. The instructer for the company orientation class, told us he had been a state trooper but he had seen the light, so he came over to the right side.
And I've had boot lickers in the trucking industry play that line of: 'Just obey the law". If they have a quota to meet how can doing just that prevent tickets?
In the 70s I had a govt contract hauling Refer Mail from Atlanta to Phoenix no logs and dot exempt . I kept 5 log books 1 I got paid by 4 I cheated in damn I miss the good old days.
Best way use backroads and you will be relax , but make sure you know the route because if not you will be hitting a bridge or collapsing one for weight.
In NY state it's not called "quota" because that's illegal it's called performance evaluation 😂
I understand having to do so many inspections a year, but he definitely seems like the guy who gets awards for the most violations
We need more insight like this ! More more more !!! Thanx
Wow. I needed to hear this. I sure will inspect my rig always and not give the DOT any reason to pull me over.
Good plan but you need to understand they don't even NEED a reason to inspect... I used to drive a company owned F550 Superduty with a service bed with my tools (never any cargo) I've been pulled over while driving at highway speed by MSP and given a 30min random roadside level 2, I've had one Level 1 that took 90min and also a Level 1 that was complete in 15min, and I've also had a Level2 that took place on the scale at closing time that took under 60seconds and I was back on the road. My point is to say, that inspections happen whenever and wherever without making much sense, and certainly no "Reason " required... after all this is government where sense, reason, and obviously intelligence doesn't matter!
Confirming something we’ve ALWAYS KNOWN......
Oh Yeah!
That guy’s a good one to have in your back pocket!
👍🏻
Thanks Alex!
Thank you bro!! For the trust finally the truth comes!
A question
Is it lawful to pull an inspection on a truck in a truck stop.
I was pulled over for an inspection one time, he looked at the rear end and said it was cracked.
I wiped all the dirt off it and said it was a manufactured seam. He had it towed with a full load of asphalt.
Further inspection at the tow company confirm the seam.
They didn't charge me for the tow, but I lost the day and the asphalt.
I appreciate what he laid down..
What if it was your wife
50 years OTR here. 1998 379 PETE flatbed. My experience has been while static weigh, while stopped, no dripping oil on scales, no audible air leaks, DOT required load securement, good rubber and good fleet ratings (They run your MC #) are most helpful. However, you may be selected as a random inspection
They'll get rid of him like Corndog.
Thanks for the tips.
Stay safe
God bless America.
I was pulled over by NC State Trooper just so he could make his DOT Truck check quota. He didnt give me a ticket, but he was real nice and got me in and out.
North Carolina is not far behind North Korea in being authortative
Thank you very much for getting guy to open up. After all it's up to us truckers to make sure we are safe. YES it's a quota game. But who is doing that. Not the officer ( DOT) inspection it's the Government game. Remember why this started to get so Bad. There were bus drivers, not doing inspection on there busses. Flat tire or bald tires. Accident happens. Bad ones, with passage caring CDL requirements. I myself have keep up my CDL, a health test every Year for me. BP meds. Lots of the questions are about SLEEP apthany. I only drive now a contract wildlands Tender, under Private contract to Federal Government, for Forest Fires
Just drive for there Training. Myself I own a 71 SeaGrave Engine I am restoring, but it still require a CDL, over 26000 pounds, has air brakes. I use to worked with a guy who always wanted to drive the Dump Trucks at my job. I kid you not. The guy would fall ASLEEP at a red light stop, believe it or not. I was afraid to ride with him. It was a day driver job, so we were not STOPPED and inspecded all the time like over the freeway drivers. We have to look at are self's to start with. Like the former DOT guy said does your truck look like a mess of problem's. I do feel for the poor guy's moving containers from port to port's that are close together. The guy might not have a newer truck. Just trying to make a small living for himself
Still the Government does NOT care. Just look at the Emissions requirements to even get on port property. You MUST meet Ter- 4 or more on Diesel engine. I am so glad the guy opened up. Great learning listening to him. Thank you for your series.
Oh yeah, I had a Texas D.O.T tell me the same thing.
Officer told me he been looking for me all day.
No hazmat all day for 8 hrs till I show up.
Level 1 inspection . Clean inspection
One thing I'm learning is that there is such thing as "Freedom" in trucking. I've worked in banking and construction, two highly regulated industries, and they are nothing compared to trucking.
Food for thought
I was pulled over in July and the inspector told me had to do 40 inspections that day I was number 38. He pulled me over his words because I was driving a Ram and didn't have airbrakes. He didn't want to crawl under a big truck to check brakes. He was cool I even joked that I thought he was a pissed off UPS driver because of his brown van.
I was watching a German reality show called "Achtung Kontrolle" which deals with law enforcement's (and other government agencies) interactions with the public. One episode dealt with the German equivalent of DOT inspectors and commercial drivers over there. Because of the European Union allowing citizens from anywhere in an EU member country to live and work anywhere in the bloc, the inspectors have to deal with a handful of drivers who don't speak German or English. The worst violators over there usually hail from Eastern Europe.
Same in the US I've seen trucks that would fill a year of ticket qoutas on some eastern European drivers trucks
Keep your windshield and rims clean! Used to drive an 85 Mack and got stopped a lot! Until they learned I took care of my truck. One TXDOT inspector told me always keep your wheels and rims clean.
We alll have known this for years … the question is what can we do about it
Everyone knows what to do but won't say it on this platform.. don't worry their time is coming when the American people have had enough...
I served 21 years as a CHP Commercial Auditor. 20 years as an Owner Operator, hauling Flatbed-steel and Reefer-produce. THERE ARE NO QUOTAS IN CALIFORNIA, Just annual required completed inspections to maintain your Certification as a Federally Trained Inspector.
Yeah I had one tell me I was his las truck of the day just asked me if anything was wrong with the truck I said no and I got a clean inspection.. he didn't even inspection or nothing we had a good conversation and I kept on my way on personal conveyance..
wow nice interview congrats and thank you so much🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
If you keep your truck in good order, you will not have anything to worry about. In over 40 years as a owner/operator, I can not tell you how many D.O.T. inspections I've been through. Always passed and no tickets. They did point out a few potential problems and I was glad, so that I could get them fixed before they could become big problems! Myself, I'm glad D.O.T. is out there inspecting trucks. The big problem is the drivers attitudes of "its them against us".
I don't believe that
@@HMMELD that's part of the problem with the drivers today, but then all I can go by is my own experience and that of my friends!
No such thing is your truth… it’s ONLY THE truth and then there are lies!
Drove for 30 yrs and retired. Drove for big company, got inspected a few times, officers have said they picked me for the easy inspection knowing it would be clean.
Reading just a few of the other comments when it comes to paint it can get very expensive especially with all the new paint regulations that helped drive up the cost of the paint itself. In some businesses clients may base a decision to contract with You based on the appearance of Trucks and equipment. The reasoning being that attention to detail can be expected. In other types of work like freight hauling where clients are more apt to have easy access to histories I can see where paint becomes less important and exorbitant when considering the numbers in a fleet, their useful lifetime and the industry being at the mercy of ever changing laws and arbitration.
Good info and he definitely still gives off fed vibes as hard as he tried not to😂😂
I agree…..he can’t wash the asshole off his face that’s for sure
I agree with most of what he said.
As a heavy duty mechanic at a independent garage.
I got pretty good at spotting out of service trucks when they pulled in the parking lot.
If it was a older truck and dirty it almost always failed a dot inspection.
If it was clean and in good general appearance
You most likely wasn't going to find anything wrong with it
That kid on the bike was hilarious. 😂
Great Video, thank you both.
Straight to point no BS. Your always giving us the scoop. Maybe your calling was journalism.. j/k . Love it brother keep it coming and Thank you.
hauled sulfuric acid in the southwest for 15 years 15 years ago, no new highways in 30 years, double the traffic!!!Now I run a 16 Pete water truck on 1000 acre ranch, retired truckers dream job, off road truckin!!!!
Every truck driver should know that even a brand new truck won't pass a true in depth dot inspection
For some humor I might add that I dont think he likes new home decor or cattle..
If I was an inspector I don't think I would ever "see"a cattle truck ever
As a class B cdl driver, I make a habit of going around scales due to DOT picking on us 24/7. If I ever do run into one, it's never near a weigh station, and they always just check my paperwork, and lights only.
The dot should be abolished. The atf, and fbi should also be abolished.
I finally figured out why my company's new Vac Truck keeps getting pulled into the weigh station near me... I was literally in a line of 3 different trucks I was last and the Vac truck in front of me. They let the first guy go, pulled the vac truck, then let me go. They must want a quick inspection on the brand new vac truck. I get back to our shop and told the supervisor laughing about it and he said they'd been pulling the vac truck in regularly lol
In CA the cvis’s have to make certain amount of contacts a day.
I just got back on the road. Been off for 8 yrs as a newer driver then did 2.5 yrs in the parking lot at a warehouse. I will check him out.
That was a dope video I appreciate that that does bring truth and opens up my eyes that I need to go to the truck wash more often
Thanks very much for this one
I drove a double fuel tanker in California...ALWAYS got pulled in at scales... watched duct - taped crap trucks from L.A. harbor go right through 5 at a time while they spent an hour or more trying to get me for SOMETHING....ANYTHING....
Everything the former officer says here I have always believed to be true. Now I have his confirmation of the truth, which I had previously presumed. Thank you for bringing this to us -- *FINALLY* -- Alex!!
👍🏽😎👍🏽💯
if u run a road on a time schedule same days a week, d.o.t will know when u pass them. was stopped for level 1 and he knew what time I passed him on outbound trip.
They absolutely have to inspect X amount of trucks per quarter to keep their credentials.
I had already known this. Trinidad, CO; got pulled in for inspection and the DOT office told me they are required to inspect a minimum of 9 trucks per 8 hour shift.
Your FREEDOM is gone for a while to meet the quota of the day...
I can't believe my eyes and ears. Good content! Thanks for the video!
I got an warning on my log book when I had a full DOT expecting done on my rig at a weight station I got everything checked
He needs to realize logs are a joke just because you have I log violation doesnt mean your tired it's just a control and regulation tool I drove since 1973 I hauled cattle I had 1 cop try and put me out of service for being over length in the middle of summer one call to the humane animal control and I was back rolling Dot likes to falsify things like when they were cought in California for backing brakes off and loosening bolts
John knows more about logs and auditing logs than anyone I know. He knows what’s bs and how the best guys on paper logs actually hide things. The thing is when FMCSA inspectors are auditing logs it’s what they can PROVE is a violation. So they look at all your time stamps fuel, tolls, lumper receipts, dot inspections, accident reports, etc. Then they just glance at your logs. If time stamps don’t line up then boom you’re screwed. If they cannot find anything wrong there then they start looking at your logs and your HOS to make sure there’s no violations there. It the opposite of a roadside inspection.
Yep at the I 80 Truckee scale
I have a 2008 Volvo and that is one of the reasons I wash my truck every week
I drive a clean new truck that I own and maintain. Got pulled into a California scale house a couple months ago for a level 1. In the stall next to me a DOT officer was arguing with a driver who had an older dirty truck and spoke very little English. My DOT officer couldn't stop chuckling at it. He took my license and ran it through the computer. Put a nice sticker in my window, and I was out of there in 5 minutes with a level 1 on my record. I was very happy.
Very interesting, thanks !
Should have asked him his thoughts on doing inspections on LTL linehaul driver’s hauling doubles
Things like this is what helped lead to the Athens Rebellion in Tennessee
That tells me it’s not about making the roads safer.