Under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations, commercial truckers are required to conduct pre- and post-trip inspections of their vehicles in order to identify and document safety defects and maintenance concerns. Previously, truckers were required to complete Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (“DVIRs”) documenting the results of their inspections. Trucking companies were required to retain the DVIRs.
As of December 18, 2014, truckers are no longer required to complete DVIRs, if they do not find any problems with their vehicle. Although eliminating no-defect DVIRs will reduce paperwork costs for the trucking industry, it will come at the expense of safety. Both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety cautioned that eliminating DVIRs will have a negative impact on public safety.