What Is the DOT Out-of-Service Criteria for Brakes?

What exactly are the DOT out-of-service criteria for brakes? In the trucking realm, this isn’t just a piece of bureaucratic red tape. It’s the linchpin of safety, the ultimate decider of whether your rig can stay on the road or requires sidelining.

Let’s take a journey through the DOT’s regulations, deciphering the jargon and demystifying the requirements that keep our roads safer.

Learn the Recent Amendments

If you’ve worked in the industry for a long time, you know that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance never rests on its laurels. The agency is continually tweaking its standards, striving for that perfect zone of vehicular safety; the recent changes for brake mechanisms are no exception. 

Effective since April 1, 2023, the members of the Alliance voted in favor of including rotor rust severity to the original criterion for:

• Air disc brakes
• Hydraulic and electric brakes
• Front steering axle brakes

To the uninformed, Appendix G states that any vehicle with faulty mechanisms, air leaks, and other similar issues will receive a rejection. The criteria also allows 20% defective brakes and some allowance for air leaks on non-steering axles before placing the vehicle out of service. 

Other Changes To Consider

The DOT out-of-service criteria for brakes isn’t the only portion that received an update.

No one has the time to read the whole Federal Register, and you don’t have to. We’ve distilled the most critical changes into digestible chunks for your convenience: 

1. A section of Part I, Item 4. DRIVER MEDICAL — subheading b. Medical Certificate (4) removed for more clarity.
2. Part I, Item 7. DRUGS & OTHER SUBSTANCES — subheading b. Shall Not be Under the Influence further specified for use within the previous 24 hours.
3. Part I, Item 9. RECORD OF DUTY STATUS further clarifies the out-of-service status when falsifying duty status records. Footnote 10 adds that the driver isn’t out of service for failing to sign or print their record of duty status.
4. Part II, Item 2. CARGO SECUREMENT — subheading e. (3) and f. NOTE clarifies that no part of the National Safety Code Standard 10 or Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations dictates the tiedown placements on cargo.
5. “To Be On” included in the title of Part II, Item 9. LIGHTING DEVICES, a. When Lights are Required.
6. The spring hangers and equalizer portion of Part II, Item 11. SUSPENSION further clarified.
7. Diagram added to Part II, Item 11. SUSPENSION — subheading d. Suspension Connecting Rod & Tracking Component Assembly to specify each component and its out-of-service requirements.

Preparing for Your Upcoming DOT Inspections

An FMCSA compliance checklist is a surefire way to keep your rigs rolling and your operation humming along nicely. You can also refamiliarize yourself with the various safety standards.

Level 1: North American Standard Inspection

The first level is the most thorough and most common assessment, which covers both the driver and their vehicle. 

You need to prepare these documents:

• License
• Medical certifications
• Recent logs
• HOS documentation
• Inspection reports
• Hazmat endorsements

The DOT inspector will also verify that you’re not under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or other harmful substances.

Finally, they check the vehicle, verifying proper cargo storage and the condition of the brakes, seat belts, steering wheels, tires, suspensions, windshield wipers, turn signals, headlights, and fuel system.

Level 2: Walk-Around Inspection

This inspection follows the exact same protocol as Level 1, but with a less comprehensive vehicle checklist. The inspector will only test parts that don’t require getting under the vehicle.

Level 3: Driver Only Inspection

As the name suggests, the spotlight is entirely on the driver. The inspector looks for these credentials:

• Commercial driver’s license
• Relevant endorsements
• RODS
• Skill performance evaluation certificate
• HAZMAT requirements
• Recent vehicle inspection report
• HOS documentation

You should also practice your seat belt usage and ensure you’re not under the influence of any prohibited substances. 

Level 4: Special Inspection

In certain instances, the Department of Transportation conducts specific, single-item checkups. These are usually unplanned and carried out in response to a particular concern or issue. 

Level 5: Vehicle Only Inspection

A specialist will test proper vehicle maintenance without the driver’s presence. They typically do it in a controlled environment like a carrier’s terminal or at the scene of an accident.

Level 6: Enhance NAS Inspections for Radioactive Shipments

The Level 6 inspection exclusively covers radioactive loads, and it’s only valid for one trip to the intended destination. This includes the usual Level 1 checks but kicks it up a notch with an enhanced review of shipment safety and out-of-service criteria; no defects from the driver, cargo, or vehicle allowed.

Seek Assistance from Trained Specialists

The top causes of a DOT out-of-service order include brake-related violations, tire deficiencies, and lights that fail to function correctly; avoid such predicaments by consulting with Federal Motor Carrier Authority Online Filings.

Contact us online to meet DOT out-of-service criteria for brakes and other safety standards or speak with one of our live agents via our online chat portal.