Pre-trip inspections - British Columbia

Application

Commercial vehicles must be given a pre- and post-trip inspection by the driver or person specified by the company on a daily basis. Both the carrier and the driver are responsible for compliance with the regulations. British Columbia also accepts compliance with National Safety Code Standard 13, Trip Inspections.

Written pre- and post-trip inspection reports are required for buses, school buses in respect of which a permit has been issued under Division 11 of the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations; truck or truck tractor, license gross vehicle weight exceeding 5,000 kilograms and attached trailer(s); and vehicles licensed under the Motor Carrier Act.

Requirements

The pre-trip inspection must be done each day, prior to the first trip. For trips lasting more than one day, the inspection must be carried out no later than the first stop of any subsequent days of the trip. The current day’s pre-trip inspection report must be carried on the vehicle.

The post-trip inspection must be performed after the final trip of the day. For trips lasting more than one day, the post-trip must be done at the final rest stop on every subsequent day of the trip. The driver must inspect the vehicle and record any defects observed as a result of the inspection or while in charge of the vehicle.

According to a National Safety Code (NSC) Bulletin (# 02-15, issued August 19, 2015), issued by British Columbia’s NSC Office, post-trip inspections are not required to be documented if no defects are found. Carriers may implement internal policy requiring a written post trip report but it is not required by regulation if no defects are identified. If defects are identified during the day or upon completion of the final trip of the day, the Bulletin states that those defects are to be noted on the pre-trip which can be either on the written paper copy or in an electronic format. View the bulletin at http://tinyurl.com/BCposttrips.

Repairs to noted defects must be made prior to movement of the commercial vehicle, unless the report is signed by a representative of the company certifying that the repairs are unnecessary.

Recordkeeping

Although the format may vary, the report must contain, at a minimum, the license plate or unit numbers of the vehicle; a list of defects, if any; if no defect was discovered, a statement to that effect; and the date and signature of the driver. The minimum defect list is as follows:

• Service brakes, including trailer brake connections and brake adjustments,
• Parking brakes,
• Steering mechanism,
• Lighting devices and reflectors,
• Tires,
• Horn,
• Windshield wipers,
• Rear vision mirrors,
• Coupling devices,
• Wheels and rims,
• Emergency equipment, and
• Load securement devices.

A separate inspection and report must be completed for every vehicle put into service that day and must be turned into the carrier within 20 days. The carrier must keep the original of the trip inspection report and proof of repairs or corrections for at least three months.

Correcting defects

A carrier cannot allow drivers to drive, and drivers must not drive, a commercial motor vehicle unless defects listed on the trip inspection report have been corrected and noted as such on the trip inspection report, or certified on the trip inspection report correction of the defects is unnecessary.

Law

Motor Vehicle Act, Section 210.3(g)

Regulation

Motor Vehicle Regulations, Division 37, Part 4, 37.21 and 37.22