Risk Assessment & Mitigation Flashcards

A technician identifies a cracked chassis rail during a PM inspection. Under a risk-based maintenance framework, this defect is classified as:

Answer: Safety-critical — remove from service immediately

Structural frame defects are safety-critical because they can lead to catastrophic loss of vehicle control and must be addressed before the vehicle returns to service.

When a fleet technician discovers a DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) system fault that triggers a vehicle derate, the risk mitigation priority is to:

Answer: Repair the DEF system before the vehicle is deactivated by the ECM derate cycle

DEF system faults progressively derate engine power, eventually immobilizing the vehicle; timely repair prevents an on-road breakdown risk.

Which approach BEST demonstrates the risk mitigation principle of 'transfer'?

Answer: Purchasing commercial auto liability insurance

Purchasing insurance is the classic example of risk transfer — shifting the financial consequence of a loss to a third party.

A fleet safety manager reviews DVIR data and finds that drivers rarely report defects. The root cause is MOST likely:

Answer: Drivers lack training on what constitutes a reportable defect

Under-reporting on DVIRs is most commonly caused by drivers not knowing what defects are reportable or fearing negative consequences for reporting.

According to FMCSA regulations, which defect found during a roadside inspection results in an out-of-service (OOS) order?

Answer: Brake adjustment exceeding allowable limits per the OOS criteria

Brake adjustment out of FMCSA-specified limits is a critical safety item and one of the most common defects triggering an out-of-service order.

In a risk register, the 'control owner' is responsible for:

Answer: Ensuring the assigned risk control is implemented and effective

The control owner is the individual accountable for implementing and maintaining the specific risk control measure assigned to them.

A fleet of refrigerated trucks shows repeated compressor failures. Applying root cause analysis, the technician should FIRST:

Answer: Collect failure data to identify common modes, intervals, and contributing factors

Root cause analysis requires data collection first to identify patterns before selecting a corrective action.