DOT DOT Out-of-Service Criteria & Enforcement 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A CMV tire has a visible cord or fabric through the tread area. Under CVSA OOS criteria, how many such tires must be found to place the vehicle out of service?
- Only if three or more tires are affected
- Only on steer axle tires
- Any single tire with this condition is an OOS defect (Correct answer)
- Only if the tire is on the drive axle
Correct answer: Any single tire with this condition is an OOS defect
A single tire with exposed cord or fabric in the tread area is an OOS condition regardless of axle position.
Question 2: During an inspection, a driver presents a medical examiner's certificate that expired 30 days ago. The driver has no valid replacement certificate. This situation results in:
- A citation only, with the driver allowed to continue to the nearest terminal
- An OOS order for the driver (Correct answer)
- A 72-hour grace period to produce a valid certificate
- A warning with no OOS implication if the driver is otherwise qualified
Correct answer: An OOS order for the driver
Operating with an expired medical certificate is an OOS condition for the driver under 49 CFR 391.45.
Question 3: An inspector finds a placarded hazardous materials vehicle with a leaking package in the cargo area. The correct response is to:
- Allow the driver to resecure the package and continue if the leak stops
- Place the vehicle out of service and notify the appropriate hazmat authority (Correct answer)
- Issue a citation but allow the vehicle to proceed to a hazmat facility
- Test the leaking substance before making an OOS determination
Correct answer: Place the vehicle out of service and notify the appropriate hazmat authority
A leaking hazardous materials package requires immediate OOS action and notification of hazmat authorities.
Question 4: A vehicle is placed out of service at a roadside location that is unsafe for parking. Under CVSA guidelines, the inspector should:
- Cancel the OOS order until the vehicle can be moved to a safe location
- Allow the driver to move the vehicle to the nearest safe parking area before the OOS takes effect (Correct answer)
- Require the driver to remain in place and call for a tow immediately
- Transfer the OOS order to the motor carrier only, not the driver
Correct answer: Allow the driver to move the vehicle to the nearest safe parking area before the OOS takes effect
When an OOS location is unsafe, inspectors may allow the driver to move the vehicle to the nearest safe location before the order takes full effect.
Question 5: Which of the following correctly describes the CVSA North American Standard OOS Criteria for air loss rate on a combination vehicle (tractor-trailer) with the service brake fully applied?
- Air loss exceeding 4 psi per minute is an OOS condition
- Air loss exceeding 6 psi per minute is an OOS condition (Correct answer)
- Air loss exceeding 3 psi per minute is an OOS condition
- Air loss exceeding 8 psi per minute is an OOS condition
Correct answer: Air loss exceeding 6 psi per minute is an OOS condition
For a combination vehicle with brakes applied, air loss exceeding 6 psi per minute is an OOS condition under CVSA criteria.
Question 6: An HOS violation that qualifies as an OOS condition under the CVSA criteria includes a driver who has:
- Used 10 of 11 allowed hours of driving time
- Exceeded the 11-hour driving limit by 1 hour or more (Correct answer)
- Used 69 of 70 hours in an 8-day cycle
- Taken a 28-minute break instead of the required 30-minute break
Correct answer: Exceeded the 11-hour driving limit by 1 hour or more
Exceeding the 11-hour driving limit by 1 hour or more is a qualifying OOS HOS violation under CVSA guidelines.
Question 7: A cargo tank vehicle is inspected and found to have a missing required emergency shutoff valve on a compartment. This is:
- An OOS condition only if the tank is loaded with a Class 3 flammable liquid
- An OOS condition for any cargo tank regardless of lading (Correct answer)
- A citation-only offense with a 30-day repair window
- Only an OOS condition if the carrier has prior violations
Correct answer: An OOS condition for any cargo tank regardless of lading
A missing required emergency shutoff valve on a cargo tank is an OOS condition regardless of the commodity being carried.
DOT DOT Out-of-Service Criteria & Enforcement 5
A CMV tire has a visible cord or fabric through the tread area.
Under CVSA OOS criteria, how many such tires must be found to place the vehicle out of service?