Article

Vehicle inspections

Whenever I discuss safety, I compare the FAA flight safety regulations of pre- and post-flight inspections to regulations and requirements for hazmat transportation.

Most aircraft passengers would prefer pilots and mechanics adhere to mandatory inspections and mechanical maintenance. Very few disagree.

Many private passenger vehicle accidents are due to poor or inattentive maintenance. However, hazmat vehicles are held to a higher standard than passenger vehicles due to the transportation of hazardous material.

When it comes to hazmat vehicles, the stakeholders include all drivers and passengers using public roadways, residential and commercial delivery sites, storage facilities/terminals, other hazmat vehicles and insurance companies. When you factor in the loss of use or delay in fulfilling delivery commitments, the stakes can be very high. Let’s not forget the importance of employee safety. They are stakeholders in the process as well.

Proper maintenance
Damaged or worn parts, including tires and broken equipment, can impair the ability to drive safely. It is also vital that emergency shutoff equipment functions properly. The expense of such maintenance can be the largest detriment to compliance with recommended inspections and corrected safety problems.

You can assume it would be cheaper to keep the vehicle in repair than to pay the costs of vehicle damage, property damage, bodily injury and loss of use.

Documentation should be a key priority when it comes to pre-trip and post-trip inspections. The paperwork shows it was done. It’s that simple. Managers who are in control inspect what they expect of driver compliance with documentation of vehicle inspections.

After an accident, poor paperwork may result in liability exposures and Department of Transportation (DOT) fines. A DOT audit is another way these issues can come to light. A regular self-audit of your vehicle inspection reports will shed internal light on compliance.

Employee training
Employee training is a huge factor in achieving compliance. Certified Employee Training Program (CETP) e-Learning Bobtail Delivery Learning Activity on Performing Scheduled Inspections and Propane Delivery Operations & Cylinder Delivery course provide excellent training, material and forms for inspection compliance.

In addition, there are some older documents that provide excellent insight such as Safety Considerations for Bobtail Deliveries and Truck Maintenance Suggested Daily Vehicle Inspection Vehicle Pre Trip Inspection and Maintenance. Both documents are from the old – but practical – NPGA Propane Safety and Technical Support Manual. Some in the industry frown on or ban mention of this manual as it is no longer published or considered state of the art, but in many cases it does an excellent job of sharing ideas about safety in an easily understood format.

Another way to train would be to incorporate a 10- to 15-minute safety meeting generated from these materials to remind employees of why they must comply. Employees often hear what to do, but may not always understand why. By utilizing information from many resources, you can craft a meeting that will document training and education related to compliance with company and DOT requirements. Discuss the problems and design solutions. Make sure you utilize an attendance sheet along with material covered for your files.

Take time to review
One factor to consider in terms of safety and compliance is to review material you keep in your training and safety library. Whether it be CETP or some other form of past safety information used for training, I recommend you make sure that such training and materials reflect what goes on in the field for your company. The last thing you need is for that material to reflect differing requirements and recommendations after an accident.

In the heat of the battle, during your heaviest delivery season and vehicle use, it is essential that pre- and post-trip inspections be consistently taught, discussed, audited and in compliance. It’s the best insurance for a profitable delivery process.