Understanding Fleet Services

Fleet Services

Providing Convenient Compliance Tests and Inspections

In addition to the state and federal regulations mandating the use of diesel emission control devices, there are other laws and regulations requiring inspections to determine your fleets’ emissions and that your vehicles are maintained in good working order. FleetServ offers PSIP smoke testing as well as BIT and/or DOT vehicle inspections. Our certified technicians can complete these serviceson-site at your California location, handling everything from testing to record keeping for you.

Fleet Services that Save You Time and Money

FleetServ’s fleet services are designed to make the testing and inspection process as quick, easy and cost-effective as possible, so you’ll save both time and money. Call FleetServ for:

  • Statewide mobile on-site service – We’ll come to your location anywhere in California.
  • Competitive prices
  • Certified and insured inspectors – For your peace of mind.
  • Time-saving paperwork assistance – We’ll save all of the records for the smoke tests and inspections we complete for you, organize them, and then present them to you in one easy-to-use bound folder. All you need to do is put the folder in your file cabinet and your record keeping is done.

What You Need to Know about PSIP

In 1990 the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB’s) Periodic Smoke Inspection Program (PSIP) was adopted as law. This program is meant to reduce excessive smoke emissions from heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. To learn about the program’s pertinent details, click here.

What You Need to Know about BIT

The California Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1988, commonly called the Biennial Inspection of Terminals (BIT) Program, was enacted to ensure that fleet owners follow a preventative maintenance program to proactively maintain their vehicles in good working order. Here are the program’s pertinent details:

  • Vehicles affected: Motortrucks with three or more axles having a GVWR greater than 10,000 pounds; truck tractors; trailers or semitrailers used in combination with these motortrucks or truck tractors; trucks that transport hazardous materials.
  • Inspections required: Terminal inspections conducted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) every 25 months, plus inspections of each regulated vehicle conducted every 90 days by the fleet owner or their designated service provider.
  • What you must do – terminal inspections: Complete an “Application for Truck Terminal Inspection-BIT Program” form CHP 365 and submit it to the CHP with the applicable fee.
  • What you must do – vehicle inspections:Ensure that each of your affected vehicles is inspected within 90-day intervals, or sooner if necessary to ensure safe operation. At a minimum, the following items need to be inspected:
    • Brake adjustment
    • Brake system components and leaks
    • Steering and suspension systems
    • Tires and wheels
    • Vehicle connecting devices (fifth wheels, kingpins, pintle hooks, drawbars, chains, etc.)

    Although fleet owners are permitted to conduct these inspections themselves, many prefer the advantages of having the inspections completed and reports written by an outside provider such as FleetServ.

  • Records you must keep for vehicle inspections: Inspections must be documented and inspection reports must be retained for at least two years. The inspections reports must properly identify the vehicle; describe the date and nature of the inspection, its findings, and any repair performed; and be signed by your authorized representative.

What You Need to Know about the Annual DOT Inspection

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires annual inspections of every commercial motor vehicle, to ensure that vehicles are maintained in safe working order. This is very similar to the vehicle inspections required by California’s BIT program (see above), but only required annually. Here are the program’s pertinent details:

  • Vehicles affected: Nearly all commercial vehicles.
  • What you must do: Thoroughly inspect each vehicle, or cause it to be inspected by a qualified third party, at least once each year. All parts and accessories which may affect the vehicle’s safe operation must be inspected. Any vehicle which does not pass inspection must be promptly repaired.
  • Records you must keep: Inspections must be documented and inspection reports must be retained for at least one year, plus 1-1/2 years after the vehicle is no longer under the motor carrier’s control. The inspection reports must properly identify the vehicle; describe the date, location and nature of the inspection, its findings, and any repair performed; certify that the vehicle passed the inspection.

 

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