Here are your answers...
1. What are roadside commercial inspections?
A roadside inspection occurs when a Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program inspector conducts an examination on individual commercial motor vehicles and drivers to determine if they are in compliance wit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMSCRs) and/or Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs). Serious violations result in the issuance of driver or vehicle Out of Service (OOS) orders. These violations must be corrected before the affected driver or vehicle can return to service. Traffic enforcement violations may also be recorded in conjunction with a roadside inspection.
2. What are the levels of the roadside commercial inspection?
a. Level I (FULL) - An inspection that includes examination of driver's license; medical examiner's certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s) (if applicable); brake systems; coupling devices; exhaust systems; frames; fuel systems; lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps/flags on projecting loads); securement of cargo; steering mechanisms; suspensions; tires; van and open-top trailer bodies; wheels, rims and hubs; windshield wipers; emergency exits and/or electrical cables and systems in engine battery compartments (buses), and HM/DG requirements as applicable. HM/DG required inspection items will be inspected by certified HM/DG inspectors.
b. Level II (WALK AROUND) - An examination that includes each of the items specified under the North American Standard Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection Procedure. As a minimum, Level II inspections must include examination of: driver's license; medical examiner's certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate (if applicable); alcohol and drugs; driver's record of duty status as required; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s) (if applicable); brake systems; coupling devices; exhaust systems; frames; fuel systems; lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps/flags on projecting loads); securement of cargo; steering mechanisms; suspensions; tires; van and open-top trailer bodies; wheels, rims and hubs; windshield wipers; emergency exits and/or electrical cables and systems in engine battery compartments (buses), and HM/DG requirements as applicable. HM/DG required inspection items will be inspected by certified HM/DG inspectors. It is contemplated that the walk-around driver/vehicle inspection will include only those items, which can be inspected without physically getting under the vehicle.
c. Level III (DRIVER ONLY) - An examination that includes those items specified under the North American Standard Level III Driver/Credential Inspection Procedure. As a minimum, Level III inspections must include, where required and/or applicable, examination of the driver's license; medical examiner's certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate; driver's record of duty status; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s); and HM/DG requirements. Those items not indicated in the North American Standard Level III Driver/Credential Inspection Procedure shall not be included on a Level III inspection.
d. Level IV (SPECIAL STUDY) - Inspections under this heading typically include a one-time examination of a particular item. These examinations are normally made in support of a study or to verify or refute a suspected trend.
e. Level V (TERMINAL) - An inspection that includes each of the vehicle inspection items specified under the North American Standard Inspection (Level I), without a driver present, conducted at any location.
f. Level VI (RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL) - An inspection for select radiological shipments, which include inspection procedures, enhancements to the North American Standard Level I inspection, radiological requirements, and the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria for Transuranic Waste and Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) of Radioactive Material. As of January 1, 2005, all vehicles and carriers transporting highway route controlled quantities (HRCQ) of radioactive material are regulated by the U. S. Department of Transportation and required to pass the North American Standard Level VI Inspection. Previously, U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) voluntarily complied with the North American Standard Level VI Inspection Program requirements.
3. What is the New Entrant Safety Audit?
Motor carriers must undergo a Safety Audit within the first 18 months of their operations to complete the New Entrant Program. A Safety Audit is a review of a motor carrier's records designed to verify that a carrier has basic safety management controls in place to ensure compliance with applicable Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMSCRs), Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs), and related record-keeping requirements.
4. What violations would cause a carrier to automatically fail a Safety Audit?
a. Carriers will be notified of all violations found during a Safety Audit and provided an explanation of how to address their safety problems. Some violations are deemed egregious enough to cause the carrier to automatically fail the Safety Audit.
b. Automatic Failure Violations:
i. Alcohol and Drug Violations
ii. Driver Violations
iii. Operator Violations
iv. Repair and Inspection Violations
5. What is a BOC-3 Designation of Agents for Service of Process?
BOC-3 stands for Blanket of Coverage. It typically assigns a person or business in each of the 50 U. S. states to receive and forward legal documents. The BOC-3 is the United States federal filing that designates legal agents upon which process may be served. The BOC-3 filing is required before federal operating authority can be granted withing the United States.
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