3 Documents to Have for Roadside Inspection

A roadside inspection is something that every trucker will have to go through eventually. If you’ve been lucky enough to avoid a roadside inspection, it is just a matter of time until it is your turn. Being prepared for a roadside inspection is the first step to passing the roadside inspection and these 3 categories of documents are essential to have in your roadside inspection toolkit.

Many of our drivers use a file folder or accordion file to organize their driving papers and documents. You can find a good organizing file folder at Walmart or a local office supply store.

Driving Documents

The first items to organize into your roadside inspection toolkit are your general driving documents. This may sound like a no brainer but your driving documents, such as your commercial driver’s license, are essential during an inspection and could be easily misplaced.

Make sure you have these 3 documents in your “Driving Documents” File:

  1. Carrier Driver List
  2. Drivers Record of Duty Status (RODS) from the ELD and supporting documents
  3. Drivers Motor Vehicle Record (MVR)
  4. Medical Certificate

Vehicle Related Documents

One of the main reasons to be pulled over for a roadside inspection is for the inspecting officer to verify the driver is running legally and safely. Properly maintaining your vehicle will help to minimize safety hazards for you as a driver, as well as, thousands of 4-wheel drivers on the roads.

Here are the 6 vehicle-related documents to store in your “Vehicle Documents” File:

  1. Carrier Vehicle List
  2. Annual Vehicle Inspection Report
  3. Vehicle Maintenance Reports
  4. Truck Leasing Papers
  5. Hazardous Materials Paperwork (if hauling hazardous materials)
  6. Load Shipping Papers

Carrier Related Documents

The third file to keep on hand is the “Carrier Related documents. During a roadside inspection, the inspecting officer will ask for documents to verify carrier information. This file is where you will store your extra RODS paper logs in case of emergency, insurance information, and other risk assessment documents.

These 4 things are good to have handy in your “Carrier Documents” File during a roadside inspection:

  1. Proof of Insurance (Minimum $750,000)
  2. Drug & Alcohol Program Information (pre-employment, random, etc.)
  3. Accident Register of Previous Year
  4. 7 Days of Blank RODS Logs

A roadside inspection is nothing to be anxious about or scare of as long as you are educated and organized. Roadside inspections are routine in the trucking industry. Be prepared by organizing and implementing your operational documents. Stay safe and #DriveLIFE