DOT Commercial Vehicle Inspection Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the North American Standard Inspection Program, which level of inspection includes an examination of the driver's credentials and a walkaround vehicle inspection?
- Level I
- Level II (Correct answer)
- Level III
- Level IV
Correct answer: Level II
Level II (Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection) includes checking driver credentials and a walkaround vehicle inspection without going under the vehicle.
Question 2: What is the minimum number of tie-downs required to secure a cargo load that is 20 feet long and weighs 10,000 lbs?
- 1
- 2 (Correct answer)
- 3
- 4
Correct answer: 2
A load 20 feet long requires at least 2 tie-downs; one for each 10 feet of cargo length or fraction thereof.
Question 3: Under FMCSA regulations, how often must a motor carrier conduct a periodic inspection on each CMV in its fleet?
- Every 6 months
- Every 12 months (Correct answer)
- Every 18 months
- Every 24 months
Correct answer: Every 12 months
49 CFR 396.17 requires motor carriers to inspect every CMV at least once every 12 months.
Question 4: A CMV is found with a broken leaf spring. The inspector should:
- Allow travel if only one spring leaf is broken
- Place the vehicle out of service (Correct answer)
- Require repair within 48 hours
- Issue a citation and allow travel to the nearest scale
Correct answer: Place the vehicle out of service
Any broken spring assembly component is an out-of-service defect under the North American OOS criteria.
Question 5: When is a CMV required to have its headlights illuminated under federal regulations?
- Only between sunset and sunrise
- Between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise
- Whenever visibility is less than 1,000 feet
- When required by state law or in conditions of reduced visibility (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When required by state law or in conditions of reduced visibility
49 CFR 392.33 requires headlights when required by state law or under conditions of reduced visibility, not just at specific times.
Question 6: During a Level I inspection, an inspector finds the fuel tank vent is plugged. This defect should be:
- Noted but does not require out-of-service action (Correct answer)
- Treated as an out-of-service defect
- Reported to the carrier for correction within 30 days
- Ignored if the fuel level is below half
Correct answer: Noted but does not require out-of-service action
A plugged fuel tank vent is a defect that must be noted and cited, but it does not meet the threshold for an out-of-service order.
Question 7: What is the required working pressure range for a CMV's air brake system low-pressure warning device?
- Below 40 psi
- Below 60 psi (Correct answer)
- Below 80 psi
- Below 100 psi
Correct answer: Below 60 psi
The low-pressure warning device must activate before reservoir pressure falls below 60 psi, alerting the driver to a brake system problem.
DOT Commercial Vehicle Inspection Standards 3
According to the North American Standard Inspection Program, which level of inspection includes an examination of the driver's credentials and a walkaround vehicle inspection?