Inspection and maintenance - Texas

Texas has adopted Part 396 of the Federal Regulations.

Part 396 applies to a vehicle or combination of vehicles with an actual gross weight or a gross weight rating in excess of 26,000 pounds when operating intrastate, and a vehicle of any size hauling hazardous materials requiring placarding.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers the Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection program. This mandatory vehicle inspection program applies to Texas-registered self-propelled or towed vehicles or combinations of vehicles:

• With a gross weight or gross weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds;
• Used to transport a placardable amount of hazardous materials; or
• With a gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds that are operated in interstate commerce.

Intrastate farm vehicles with a gross weight or gross weight rating of less than 48,000 pounds have been excepted from the program. Covered farm vehicles as defined in Sec. 390.5, and government and emergency vehicles are also excepted.

Vehicles passing the inspection will be issued a unique vehicle inspection report by the certified inspection station to designate that the vehicles have met the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and state inspection requirements.

This mandatory inspection program is considered equivalent to the Federal annual inspection requirement in Part 396.

A Texas-registered commercial motor vehicle is not subject to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Compulsory Inspection program requirements if the vehicle is not domiciled in Texas, is registered in Texas under the International Registration Plan (IRP), and has been issued a certificate of inspection in compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.