From: timothy.smith1@att.net
Date: Fri Jun 03 2005 - 21:40:43 PDT
Sonny,
Well, this should help explain things. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Regulations ARE standardized....at the FEDERAL level... However, as they are
adopted by each state, (so as to be enforceable at the state level) they are not
necessarily adopted in total. For example, Texas kept their own driver's
license requirements and did NOT adopt the FMCSR's driver's license portion
(383) as Texas's CDL law was already in line with the federal regulations and we
pinhead enforcement types don't handle complicated changes well (HA!). Frankly,
this should come as no real surpise since many states have had different laws
since there WERE laws and state legislatures HATE having the feds telling them
how to run their shows.
One thing that IS standardized is the method for inspecting commercial vehicles
(the much hated and feared roadside safety inspection.) This is called the
North American Standard Inspection and is performed on several levels, the most
thorough of which is the Level 1 inspection.
As for showing the regulations to you or anyone else, I regularly do this with
drivers and owners if time permits, but if you have encountered an inspector who
can't or won't show you the regulations, have no fear. Most big name truck
stops will sell a pocket version of the FMCSR's for about four bucks. These
smaller books are complete insofar as the regulations go but typically lack the
important INTEPRETATIONS. Interpretations are VERY important as they come from
questions posed by enforcement personnel and others who encounter gray areas in
the regulations or regulations that are inevitably too complex for us
pinheads...or drivers...or owners. For a complete FMCSR book go to
www.jjkeller.com. Keep in mind these are updated quarterly so be sure to ask
for the latest and greatest version.
As for receiving different guidance from different officers it is a sad fact
that some enforcement officers are better than others (likely the pinheads you
speak of)...just like some truck drivers are better than others. After all,
cops are drawn from the public they serve (we don't get assembled in factories)
and there are always a few guys who are a little slower than others. And by the
way, WHO the enforcement officer works for (city, state, federal) has NOTHING to
do with how well versed he is in the regulations.
Hope this helps.
TJ
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Sonny Heath" <sonny@defuniak.com>
> Okay, I'll start.
>
> Why in the world can't this country get some standardization going for
> trucks. Its a different story everywhere you go and sometimes even in the
> same state. Am I right in believeing that about ninety percent of the
> enforcement are pinheads who don't know what to do and can't look it up and
> show it to you?
>
> Sonny
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <timothy.smith1@att.net>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 03, 2005 9:52 PM
> Subject: [MV] Oh NO!..DOT
>
>
> > Fellas,
> > I happen to be a DOT inspector. I have been following this thread with
> > interest. If you have some questions, perhaps I can be of service. (Go
> > ahead, turn up the heat.... I have my nomex underwear on..)
> > TJ
> >
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Oct 28 2005 - 22:47:27 PDT