My Personal Mechanic
Every year it happens. Every year around this time, all you hear when you walk into a truck stop a day or two before CVSA’s annual event is all the chatter going on about the big DOT 72 hour road check….
For my readers who are not truckers I will explain a bit more. Every year the CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance) holds a 72 hour crack down on big trucks checking log books, doing inspections on trucks, and the drivers themselves. You can read about how they say they save lives and avoid all kinds of injuries here.
Now, if you have followed me long enough you know I usually say what I feel. You also should know that I think a lot of what is going on in the trucking industry is bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. So you shouldn’t be surprised I think the CVSA 2010 is a whole lot of crap too…. Although I suppose I could be sitting on the side of the road in the next 72 hours singing another tune…
If you keep your log book in order, truck up to date on inspections (Daily, monthly, and yearly), and you actually know your truck, (which, by the way you should if your driving one) and take care of it like it should be taken care of (fixing what needs to be fixed asap) you really shouldn’t have any problems.
Hubs replaced the safety cables for Rosie’s hood. After a 1,550,000 miles they were due!
My problem with CVSA 2010 is just like all the other rules and regulations being thrown at truckers. Fine you want safety, good. But what about the rest of the year? Do you think 72 hours is going to do anything? What about all the unsafe personal vehicles out on our highways? Is there a 72 hour crack down on those vehicles, because that effects my safety and yours as well. If I let my camera roll 24/7 I’m betting people would be surprised by all the jalopies out on the roadways running with spare tires (donut) at 75 miles an hour, no exhaust, busted out windows (in the past month I’ve seen 1 car with a missing windshield and two with no back or side windows) exhaust hanging on the ground, and doors that don’t close. Not to mention all the drivers who are running with no insurance, no license…. What about them??? Who is checking these people? No one.
I will be honest. Every weigh station I pass that is closed makes my day. But in the same breath, every weigh station I go through, either for a regular weigh, a check of my credentials, or a full out inspection is a good thing because I usually pass with flying colors. If I don’t pass, there has been something that I needed to fix. And in the past 10+ years I can remember, two times I was pulled in for being over axle weight, once for an air bag that had blown (because I lost a tire and it took out the air bag just down the road from the scale house- the tire was fixed on the side of the road, but we missed the airbag), and once for being over my 70 hours which cost me $84.00 and 27 hours shut down time. I deserved each and every stop and I acted like a professional each and every time I was stopped.
The way I see it, 72 hours is a drop in the bucket for commercial vehicles, but we should be inspecting ALL vehicles on ALL roadways. But that’s just me….
About Bethany
Have to agree with you there. Too many crappy vehicles on the road that don't belong there… both commercial and personal. Don't a lot of truckers just stay home over this period just to "not" have to deal with the extra DOT?
Just wanted to say I love the picture of Scott! He is a much loved son-in-law and I know you two really help each other out! Enjoyed your view also just wish they would pay as much attention to all the crappy drivers on 4 wheels!
Mom
HOW ABOUT DRIVERS THAT COULD NOT READ OR WRITE ENGLISH STILL HAVE CDL AND ARE DRIVING COMMERCIAL TRUCKS . THEASE TRUCK DRIVERS ARE BASED IN CALIFORNIA . STATE OF CALIFONIA HAS ISSUED CDL TO MANNY TRUCK DRIVERS THAT COULD NOT READ OR WRITE ENGLISH . I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW COULD THEY PASS TEST . STATE OF CALIFORNIA NEAD TO GIVE CDL TEST TO ALL TRUCK DRIVERS ON COMPUTER AND CHECK EVERY PERSONS IDENTIFICATION BEFORE AND AFTER TEST . I KNOW THAT 25% OF CDL DRIVER WOULD NOT PASS TEST OR WOULD NOT COME TO TEST BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PASS TEST ON RANDOM QUESTION BY COMPUTER . THEASE DRIVERS HAVE CHEATED THE ANSWERS ON THE TEST . I KNOW THAT FMCSA WOULD NOT DO REAL THING BUT WOULD DO A FAKE ONE LIKE CVSA 2010 . BULLSHIT , BULLSHIT , BULLSHIT .
I agree 100% with your post! 72 hour check is just a revenue blast and public relations stunt. I
have plans to purchase a dash camera to put in my rig so I can show these friggin idiot four wheelers just how stupid they are on the roads. The moron decisions they make cutting us off, playing speed games, following too close etc. Not too mention the uncanny ability of the cops to ignore the pile of shit vehicles they see drive down the roads and do nothing..
In reply to RANDEEP SINGH's post.
RANDEEP, you complain about drivers not able to read or write English very well and yet you spew something like this and expect anyone to believe you can do any better with English? Seriously? Your post sounds like something a foreigner mixed with a 3rd grader would say. It is very poor English grammar, not too mention the spelling is horrible!
Ya'll stay safe out there this winter. The brain dead, selfish, summer drivers are bound to cause problems again soon.
I agree trucking has gone to hell in a hand basket. The big thing is there not many truck drivers left . Just because your in a truck don’t make you a truck driver just sit back and look at what get’s out of these truck’s now days there wearing fanny packs, sweats, tie die shirts, sandles .And lord forbid THEY HAVE THE CB ON AND TALK ON IT TO LET OTHERS KNOW WHAT AHEAD .Bottom line most of these want to be truck drive are nasty there are nasty there truck is nasty the parking lot smell’s like pee nasty fu##er. And while i am on my soap box lady drivers why do you have to look like a man ??? most lady drivers are over weight,dress sloppy, no make up, hair not fixed.My girlfriend drove for 20 years and never get out of the truck unless her hair was fixed dress nice (that fit . no sweats ) and make up and no one ran any harder then her so i know it can be done.your a woman look it. Now this 2010 shit the sates are broke and truck’s are a cash cow . I am all for safey in trucks but to nit pick just to make a dollar on things that dont matter is bull shit
I’m with you Tony!