Told the Truck Is Fixed? What to Verify Before Taking Over
At shift change, someone says the truck has been repaired. If you do not know what was wrong, ask the carrier for the report and the record of the work. Knowing what the previous driver reported helps you check the response and pay attention to that part of the vehicle during your own inspection.
Match the report to the equipment
Check the vehicle ID of the tractor and the trailer separately. If an ID is unclear, use the plate or other identifying information. If either unit was swapped, find the records for the equipment you are taking. A report for the previous unit cannot stand in for this one.
Find the component the previous driver reported, the symptoms and the time of the report. “Problem found” or “handled” leaves too much open. Ask, for example, “Tractor ___ and trailer ___ had a report of ___. Please provide the corresponding repair record and any required certification.” Mark unverified details for follow-up. Do not fill in a cause that has not been established.
Read what was actually done
If you are required to review the last driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) for this vehicle, start there and locate the repair record for the reported defect. Check what was done, who made any required certification of repairs and where it was recorded. A service request receipt shows that a report was received. You still need the outcome. If a work order is marked complete, read the work description and check for the applicable certification.
These records may be organized by vehicle. Association partner VectAxiom’s official VAX Fleet product description, for example, describes keeping DVIRs, defects and repair histories by unit. It can help you find the record during handoff. The physical inspection and any required repair certification still need to be completed separately.
Electronic DVIRs and electronic signatures have to meet the applicable requirements, too. 49 CFR § 390.32 permits electronic records but requires accurate information that can be retained and reproduced on request. Look for the actual record and certification, not just a status marked “handled.”
Inspect the vehicle in front of you
After reviewing the records, complete the applicable pre-trip inspection and check whether the reported symptoms are still present. Under 49 CFR § 396.13, the driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition before driving. Earlier repair work does not remove the need to inspect the vehicle as it stands now.
If the symptom is still present, record what you observed and when, then contact the maintenance or safety lead. Ask that person to investigate mismatched records or a missing required certification as well. Describe what you can verify and leave the diagnosis to the appropriate personnel.
If you cannot establish that the vehicle is safe, do not depart on verbal assurance or take it out for a test run. The limited provision for continued operation in § 396.7 applies when an unsafe condition is discovered while the vehicle is already on the highway. It does not authorize an incoming driver to leave the yard with an unsafe vehicle.
Who certifies the repair, and what does the driver sign?
When a listed defect is handled under § 396.11, the motor carrier or its agent must certify on the report, before the vehicle is operated again, that the defect has been repaired or that repair was unnecessary. A reported defect likely to affect safe operation must be repaired before the vehicle is driven. If the conclusion is “repair unnecessary,” the incoming driver should locate that certification rather than dismissing the defect independently.
The driver’s review acknowledgment is governed by § 396.13. The signature acknowledges that the driver reviewed the report and that the required repair certification is present. It fulfills the incoming driver’s review duty. It is not a repair certification on someone else’s behalf. A driver separately acting as the carrier’s agent for repair certification should verify that role and the work actually performed. Taking the next shift is no reason to supply a missing certification signature.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s repair certification guidance is explicit. Where federal certification is required, the driver may not operate the vehicle if that certification is missing. The responsible person must follow up with the outcome, and the incoming driver should then check that the record is complete.
If the trailer was changed, identify which unit had the reported defect. Section 396.13 provides a signature exception for defects on a trailer no longer in the combination. You must still inspect the tractor and trailer you are taking. Intermodal equipment has separate reporting and provider requirements. Check the equipment type.
Determine whether this vehicle requires a report in the first place. Under § 396.11, a driver who has neither found nor been told about a defect may not have to prepare the corresponding report. Other exceptions include certain single-vehicle carriers. Check federal applicability under § 390.3T. For California intrastate operations, consult the applicable state rules through the California Office of Administrative Law’s official regulations portal. A federal no-defect reporting provision alone cannot settle a state reporting obligation.
Give the next shift a record it can use
Identify the equipment, what the previous driver reported, where to find the disposition and what you observed this time. If you contacted maintenance or safety, include when and what they said. An unanswered inquiry or an unverified outcome is an open item. Name the next person responsible.
A handoff can read “Tractor ___ · trailer ___ · originally reported condition ___ · report and disposition located at ___ · applicable certification ___.” Mark unverified items as such.
Continue with “Symptoms still present ___ · contacted ___ at ___ · response ___ · outstanding item and next contact ___.” This handoff format does not take the place of a required report or repair certification.
Disclaimer. This article draws on federal vehicle inspection and maintenance rules, public FMCSA guidance and product information checked on October 6, 2026. It provides general information, not legal advice, a mechanical assessment or an individual compliance determination. Regulations, their scope and product features may change. Consult the applicable official rules, inspect the vehicle and check the carrier’s actual records. California intrastate operations must separately check state requirements. No blanket reporting exemption is asserted here. The sample handoff does not replace a required report, certification or physical inspection. Consult a qualified maintenance, safety or legal professional about safety judgments, liability disputes or questions of applicability. The author and publisher accept no liability for losses arising from actions taken on the basis of this article.
California Office of Administrative Law. “California Code of Regulations (CCR).” OAL, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “Question 1: If a DVIR Does Not Indicate That Certain Defects Have Been Repaired, and the Motor Carrier Has Not Certified in Writing That Such Repairs Were Considered Unnecessary, May the Driver Refuse to Operate the Motor Vehicle?.” FMCSA, 4 Apr. 1997, effective 4 May 1997, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation. “49 CFR § 390.32: Electronic Documents and Signatures.” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation. “49 CFR § 390.3T: General Applicability.” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation. “49 CFR § 396.11: Driver Vehicle Inspection Report(s).” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation. “49 CFR § 396.13: Driver Inspection.” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
United States, Department of Transportation. “49 CFR § 396.7: Unsafe Operations Forbidden.” Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.
VectAxiom. “VAX Fleet.” VectAxiom, Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.