CCJ Innovators profiles carriers and fleets that have found innovative ways to overcome trucking’s challenges. If you know a carrier that has displayed innovation, contact CCJ Chief Editor Jason Cannon at [email protected] or 800-633-5953.
Safety inspection data routinely finds that roughly one in every four commercial trucks is on the road with an out-of-service violation. Often these defects should have been discovered during pre- and post-trip inspections and documented on a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR).
The Department of Transportation (DOT) fines carriers for noncompliance with DVIR regulations, with penalties ranging from $1,270 per day for not completing a DVIR to $15,420 for not fixing a reported safety defect.
There isn't an official DVIR form. Fleets are free to buy them or make their own as long as they show basic required information like vehicle identification numbers, inspection dates and times, the signature of the driver who prepared the report, and the signature of a mechanic or other company official if a defect was found, among other items.
Penske Truck Leasing in July launched an electronic driver vehicle inspection report (eDVIR) feature in the Penske Driver mobile app for its customers. This new feature enables customer truck drivers to submit driver vehicle inspection reports electronically using the free Penske Driver app.
Drivers previously had to fill out a manual DVIR and if they discovered a defect while completing the paper form, they (or their fleet manager) would then have to contact Penske to schedule an appropriate repair.
The new eDVIR functionality provides fleet managers with immediate access to the submissions sent through the app using Fleet Insight, Penske's real-time fleet management platform. This advancement aims to streamline inspection processes, enhance compliance and improve overall fleet management efficiency.
"Our new eDVIR capability represents a step forward in how we support our customers' compliance and maintenance needs," said Brandie Searle, vice president of digital product management for Penske. "By responding to customer feedback with this highly requested feature we enable electronic submissions and real-time visibility, helping fleet managers address issues quickly and effectively, reducing downtime and improving operational efficiency."
App-based accountability
Submissions are entered into the Penske Driver app and are visible within Fleet Insight. They are marked either DOT Critical (repairs are found, repair order opened) or eDVIR Passed (no further action needed). If a repair is needed, details are automatically sent to Penske's proprietary maintenance systems. Fleet Insight then provides status updates of the request. Because this system is centralized, the Fleet Manager and Driver will have visibility to the submission regardless of where the defect occurs.
"When submitting an eDVIR through the Penske Driver app, the request is submitted automatically into Penske's internal maintenance systems," Searle said. "The entire process of addressing the issue is tracked digitally, ensuring the issue is resolved. Penske's solution also provides access to a digital history of all DOT Critical defects and subsequent repairs, ensuring technicians cannot disregard DVIRs."
The eDVIR feature is designed to help users stay compliant with Department of Transportation regulations and is exclusive to Penske leased, maintained, or rented vehicles. The upgrade streamlines the repair request process by automatically sending defect reports from the telematics system to Penske's maintenance system. As defects are resolved, detailed mechanic notes and resolution statuses are communicated back to the telematics system, providing essential information such as repair shop locations, repair notes and contact details.
"For the driver, the Penske eDVIR provides a paperless, easy way to complete their required pre and post trip inspection reports," Searle said. "For the fleet manager, it provides visibility to the status of the issue to the customer. From Penske's perspective, the digitization of this process eliminates unnecessary paperwork and reduces the time to resolve issues."
The Penske Driver app is used by approximately 20,000 commercial truck drivers monthly and offers a range of features, including logging Hours of Service to comply with the Electronic Logging Device mandate, submitting 24/7 roadside assistance requests, checking-in for service visits, submitting fuel receipts digitally and finding location rental, leasing, service, parking, EV charging and fueling locations. The app provides access to vehicle information, service history and 24/7 support.
The CCJ Innovators program is brought to you by Bestpass, Chevron Delo, Comdata and Freightliner Trucks.
