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Drivers in both the United States and Canada must conduct daily vehicle inspections to ensure their commercial motor vehicles are safe for operation. When crossing international borders, drivers need to be aware of the daily vehicle inspection regulations of the country in which they’re operating.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Canadian jurisdictions observe reciprocity on daily vehicle inspections and daily vehicle inspection reports, with some conditions.
U.S. reciprocity. The FMCSA accepts daily trip inspection reports by drivers of Canadian-plated vehicles as fully compliant with 49 CFR 396.11, Driver vehicle inspection reports (requirements regarding trip inspection).
Canadian reciprocity. Drivers operating U.S.-plated vehicles and performing pre- and post-trip inspections in accordance with U.S. trip inspection regulations in 49 CFR Part 396 and who carry and produce at roadside the post-trip inspection report from the previous day will be deemed to have met the trip inspection requirements while in Canada.
The post-trip inspection report must be no more than 24 hours old; if a U.S.-based driver does not have access to the vehicle’s previous post-trip inspection report, the driver will be expected to prepare and produce a report as per 49 CFR 396.11 for the purpose of Canadian operations.
The FMCSA’s no-defect DVIR allowance in 49 CFR 396.11(a)(2)(i) does not extend into Canada.
U.S. Drivers operating into Canada must carry a DVIR, defects or no defects.
See Pre-trip inspections (Canada) and Driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) for more information on this topic.