DVIR: Driver Vehicle Inspection Report

DVIR compliance is a key component to improving road safety. The purpose of making a DVIR mandatory is to ensure drivers notice any faults or defects in their vehicle and equipment before they become a road hazard. Additionally, the DVIR report allows for repairs to be completed in an optimal timeframe so the vehicle can operate at high efficiency. DVIRs are required and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. A DVIR is mandatory and is enforced by US authorities with the intent of increasing safety because it can reduce the number of collisions, injuries and fatalities involving a commercial vehicle. An Electronic DVIR helps to improve safety on the road because it enforces vehicle inspections before and after every trip.

DVIR compliance rules apply to drivers of commercial vehicles, such as trucks and buses, that weigh over 10,000 pounds or have over 9 passengers or vehicles that contain hazardous materials. Drivers of vans, buses, and other passenger-carrying vehicles are required to complete a DVIR report once they have completed their driving the vehicle for the day and it must indicate if there is a defect to report or not. Truck drivers and other property-carrying vehicles are only required to prepare a DVIR if there is a safety-related defect to report.

Companies that operate only one vehicle that weighs over 10,000 pounds or have over 9 passengers or vehicles that contain hazardous materials, are exempt from DVIR rules.

A DVIR includes inspection, report of defects, report signature, and any corrective action needed. DVIRs need to include: date, vehicle identity such as fleet number, license plate number, etc. Additionally, driver signature, the signature of the mechanic or other person who repaired the vehicle or person who decided that repairs were not needed, the signature of any subsequent driver of the vehicle acknowledging the repair was either not needed or completed. Some electronic DVIRs enable fleets to customize inspection report criteria based on different equipment or distinctive inspection requirements. DVIR requirements include inspection, identification of defects, signing the report, and corrective action. DVIR regulations indicate what has to appear on a DVIR, but not how it has to appear.

DVIRs have historically been paper-based. However, now more drivers have converted to electronic inspection reports, also known as eDVIRs. An eDVIR, or electronic DVIR is a paperless, or digital version of a driver vehicle inspection report. Similar to the paper DVIR, an electronic DVIR must be completed daily by commercial vehicles drivers on any commercial vehicle they operate. They typically include characteristics such as vehicle make and model, year, identification number (VIN), and license number.

Yes, there are penalties for not having a DVIR. Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Inspectors complete roadside inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers. Anyone found not in compliance with DVIR regulations may be fined at the discretion of the Department of Transportation (DOT) officer. Any vehicles deemed unsafe during a DOT roadside inspection will immediately be out of commission, resulting in revenue loss for the carrier.

As per the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a carrier must keep the original copy of each DVIR for 3 months form the date that the report was prepared. While 3 months helps with DVIR compliance, there are benefits to long-term record retention for fleets. An electronic DVIR allows for long-term record retention without the concern of storing excessive amounts of paper.

Paperless Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports, or electronic DVIRs, enable fast and intuitive submission of pre-trip and post-trip inspections. Reports are filed electronically, allowing fleet managers to receive real-time post-trip and pre-trip inspections quickly. This creates a streamlined FMCSA-compliant electronic reports which ultimately can reduce downtime due to digital notifications of asset defects, easily flagging any vehicles that have bypassed or missed inspection reports, which reduces the risk of DVIR compliance violation and strengthens fleet safety and DVIR compliance.

Yes! Geotab Drive helps you meet DVIR compliance. This comprehensive platform streamlines Electronic Logging Device (ELD) compliance, DVIR, driver identification, messaging and more via one application. Fleet managers can stay up-to-date on DVIR compliance and driver work is streamlined via the DVIR app feature.