SALTA

Recommended Standards - Vehicle Maintenance

The following summary reflects the Vehicle Maintenance Standards framework developed during the webinar:

Acronyms/Definitions:

ASE – Automotive Service Excellence

CMV = Commercial Motor Vehicle

FMCSRs – Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer

PM – Preventative Maintenance

Commercial Vehicle = Any vehicle over 10,000 lbs. GVWR

CONTENTS

CompanyVehiclesPage 2

Owner-Operator VehiclesPage 5

Section1: Company Vehicles

Preventative Maintenance

  • Documented PM schedule for each type of vehicle operated (Miles and/or time)

□Must meet or exceed OEM recommended maintenance practices

Driver Inspections

  • Commercial Vehicles – Daily vehicle inspections will be conducted and documented. Components inspected must include:

—Service brakes (including trailer brake connections)

—Parking (hand) brake

—Steering mechanism

—Lighting devices and reflectors

—Tires

—Horn

—Windshield wipers

—Rear vision mirrors

—Coupling devices

—Wheels and rims

—Emergency equipment

  • Non-CMVs – Company-owned non-CMVs are to be inspected by driver each day of operation. If critical defect observed, defect(s) discovered must be reported immediately and must obtain clearance to operate vehicle from immediate Supervisor. Critical components include:

—Service brakes

—Parking brake

—Steering

—Lighting devices (totally inoperable)

—Tires

—Windshield wipers

—Rear or side vision mirrors

—Wheels and rims

—Seat belts

—Any instance of a dashboard indicator lamp (Check Engine Light; Temperature light, etc)

Unscheduled Maintenance

  • Reported critical safety related defects on Company-owned CMVs which would be likely to affect the safe operation of the vehicle will be repaired prior to the next use of the vehicle. (Regulatory interpretations detail that components and accessories listed in Appendix G of the regulations are deemed “likely to affect the safe operation” of a CMV – they are listed at the following link)
  • Reported critical safety related defects on Company-owned non-CMVs which are likely to affect the safe operation of the vehicle will be repaired prior to the next use of the vehicle.

Annual Inspections (Non-Atlas)

  • All Company-owned CMVs will be inspected at least semi-annually according to the standards set forth in the FMCSRs under the Periodic Inspection Requirement (396.17)
  • Company-owned non-CMVs will be inspected at least annually for defects of critical safety components.

Certification of Technicians

Internal /In-house Maintenance –

  • Technicians hired to work on Company owned CMVs must meet one of the following criteria:

□Have verified certification by a recognized service organization for servicing heavy vehicles (e.g., National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence [ASE])

□Have a minimum one year of verified experience working on commercial vehicles

□Successfully complete an observed, hands-on skill aptitude/verification test given by senior technician at SALTA Member facility. Test must take place on equipment similar to the type the new hire will be servicing and must be documented.

Contracted Maintenance -

  • SALTA Members who utilize a contracted service to maintain fleet vehicles must verify via appropriate documentation that contracted garages and personnel use/are qualified technicians with appropriate certifications for repairing/maintaining Company vehicles.
  • Certificates of Insurance required for maintenance services who repair vehicles on-site at Company
  • Evidence of proper Garage Keepers/service liability insurance for contracted vendors with their own facilities

Recordkeeping

  • All inspection and repair documentation of Company-owned vehicles will be maintained for the entire time the vehicle is controlled by the Company and for one year thereafter.
  • Vehicle inspection reports completed by drivers will be maintained for at least 90 days.

Section 2: Owner-Operator/Non-Company Owned Vehicles

Evidence of Periodic Maintenance and Annual Inspections

CMVs - At least quarterly, all owner-operators must submit to Company they contract with a maintenance log and accompanying receipts/invoices to support work listed on log.

Driver Inspections

  • Commercial Vehicles – Daily vehicle inspections will be conducted and documented. Components inspected must include:

—Service brakes (including trailer brake connections)

—Parking (hand) brake

—Steering mechanism

—Lighting devices and reflectors

—Tires

—Horn

—Windshield wipers

—Rear vision mirrors

—Coupling devices

—Wheels and rims

—Emergency equipment

  • Non-CMVs – Non-CMVs are to be inspected by driver each day of operation. If critical defect observed, defect(s) must be corrected prior to using the vehicle for Company business. Critical components include:

—Service brakes

—Parking brake

—Steering

—Lighting devices (totally inoperable)

—Tires

—Windshield wipers

—Rear or side vision mirrors

—Wheels and rims

—Seat belts

—Any instance of a dashboard indicator lamp (Check Engine Light; Temperature light, etc.)

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