SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — The head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration crawled under a truck and performed a Level I commercial vehicle inspection during a recent visit to Puerto Rico, according to an October 20 statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs was on the island to meet with local transportation officials about Puerto Rico’s transition to the federal Commercial Driver’s License program. He also met with the governor at La Fortaleza.
“FMCSA Chief Derek Barrs is getting under a truck and getting his hands dirty,” USDOT said, describing the work as “a tough Level I commercial vehicle inspection as part of our work making TRUCKING GREAT AGAIN. This 37-step exam is the TOUGHEST safety standard in the business, and is CRITICAL in keeping bad actors off our roads.”
What a Level I Inspection Covers
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Level I North American Standard Inspection includes examination of the driver’s license, Medical Examiner’s Certificate, and Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate if applicable. It also covers alcohol and drugs, the driver’s record of duty status, hours of service, seat belt use, and vehicle inspection reports if applicable.
On the vehicle, inspectors check brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline and driveshaft, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs, and windshield wipers. For buses, motorcoaches, passenger vans, and other passenger-carrying vehicles, inspectors also check emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in engine and battery compartments, and seating. Hazardous materials and cargo tank requirements are inspected only by certified HM/DG and cargo tank inspectors.
Barrs’ Background
Before becoming FMCSA Administrator, Barrs worked in the private sector and in law enforcement. He served as a deputy sheriff in Madison County, Florida, and as a Florida State Trooper before retiring as Chief of the Florida Highway Patrol.
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