What is a Level 2 Inspection?
A level 2 DOT inspection is a type of roadside inspection conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and its state police officer partners. It is also known as a Walk-Around Driver and Vehicle Inspection. Officers will be reviewing you (the truck driver), your documents and parts of your truck and trailer that they can access or see without getting under your commercial vehicle.
Level 2 inspections are typically conducted at roadside inspection sites, weigh stations, or other locations where your truck can be safely pulled off the road. If a DOT violation is found during the inspection, you or your truck/trailer may be placed out of service until the violation is corrected.
DOT level 2 inspections are the most common of all DOT inspection levels, but only by a few percentage points. Level 2 inspections account for 36.3% of all level of inspection currently.
Only two of the other six levels are anywhere as close. Level 1 DOT inspections account for around 29.2% and Level 3 DOT inspections come in second at 34.5% of all trucking inspections conducted over the last year.
Spoiler Alert: There are actually 8 DOT inspection levels recognized by the CVSA if you count the newest “Level VIII – North American Standard Electronic Inspection” or really obscure inspections like the “Level VI – North American Standard Inspection for Transuranic Waste and Highway Route Controlled Quantities (HRCQ) of Radioactive Material” inspections. (For real, there have only been 4 inspections of radiological shipments in calendar year 2023…does that even need it’s own inspection level?)
What does a Level 2 DOT inspection Consist of?
During a level 2 inspection, a trained inspector will examine your commercial motor vehicle (CMV) and you to ensure compliance with federal and state safety regulations. Inspectors will follow the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Level 2 North American Standard Inspection guidelines.
This inspection involves a review of the driver’s documents, such as their commercial driver’s license (CDL), medical certificate, ELD hours of service supporting documents as well as a walk-around inspection of your CMV to check for any visible defects or deficiencies.
DOT Level 2 inspection Checklist
Here’s what an office will be checking during your Level II inspection:
- Whether you appear to be fatigued or under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol
- Your seat belt usage (and your seat belt’s condition)
- Check of your CDL (and your skill performance evaluation certificate, if you have one)
- Review your Medical Examiner Certificate
- Check your Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status
- Hours of Service duty status and log check
- Hours of Service supporting documents check
- Review and recent vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs)
- Your truck’s windshield (including your wipers and fluid levels)
- Truck and trailer brake system evaluation (but not a calculation of brake slack adjustment)
- Cargo securement check
- Check of the engine compartment, including driveline/driveshaft components, exhaust, electrical and fuel systems
- Truck frame and body, coupling devices and the body of your trailer
- Lighting devices and reflective sheeting
- Steering mechanisms and truck/trailer suspensions
- Check of all tires, wheels, hubs and rims
How does a Level 2 Inspection Differ From a DOT Level 1 Inspection?
Level 2 inspections are less comprehensive than level 1 inspections, but they are still an important tool for ensuring the safety of commercial vehicles and truck drivers.
During a Level One inspection, an officer will do a much more thorough evaluation of your truck and trailer. A level 1 inspection is even more in depth than a level 2 inspection and will include the inspector physically getting under your truck and trailer to examine all of the parts that they can’t easily see.
DOT inspection level 1 often takes place at fixed roadside inspection stations which allow for inspectors to get fully under your truck and trailer to examine everything in better detail. Level 2 inspections are generally conducted as a true roadside inspection on the shoulder of the road or in a parking area.
Level 2 inspections can be changed to a Level I inspection if the inspector finds enough concerning violations, but this is rare. Usually, they can find a serious enough violation to place your truck and/or trailer out of service and may “suggest” that you have your slack adjusters, etc. looked at as well.
Side Note: Since many officers won’t have the ability to get under trucks and trailers during the CVSA’s annual International Roadcheck event, we tend to see a spike in Level 2 inspections as a result of this DOT enforcement blitz as well.
How does a Level 2 Inspection Differ From a DOT Level 3 Inspection?
DOT inspection Level 3 is typically known as a “Driver Only” inspection. During a Level 3 DOT inspection, the officer will only review your documents, hours of service compliance and do an observational drug and alcohol screening.
The officer won’t conduct a truck inspection during a Level III. But, if they notice something on the way to your door (a flat tire, glad hand air leak, etc.), then the inspector may upgrade your Level 3 inspection to a Level 2 DOT inspection and do a walk around of your truck and trailer.
Learn more about Level 3 Inspections here: What is level 3 inspection?
How does a Level 2 Inspection Differ From an Annual DOT Inspection?
A Level 2 DOT inspection is much different from your annual DOT inspection that is required as part of your DOT truck inspection requirements.
A Level 2 inspection is much less detailed and is usually conducted by a certified inspector during a road side inspection (you get pulled over by a truck cop and inspected). Your annual DOT inspection is done by an experienced truck mechanic or service person who is qualified to conduct annual DOT inspections.
These are typically completed in a truck maintenance shop or garage and involves a thorough examination of all major truck and trailer systems and parts.
What Happens at the end of a Level II inspection?
Just like with any other roadside inspection, you’ll receive a copy of a Driver Vehicle Examination Report (DVER) that will show the inspection details. Remember, you have to turn that document into your company within 24 hours of the end of the road side inspection!
If any violations were discovered, you (or your company) will have to have those violations corrected immediately. Also be sure that a signed copy of that inspection report is sent to the State that conducted the inspection within 15 days of the inspection. The inspection as well as any DOT violations discovered will show up on your company’s CSA scores as well as your PSP report.
A copy of the DVER should be kept in your Driver Qualification File and copies of any receipts from any repairs made to your truck or trailer resulting from the inspection should be kept with a copy of the DVER as well.
Can I get a DOT Inspection Sticker After a Level 2 Inspection?
No. CVSA stickers are only provided if your truck and trailer pass a Level 1 DOT inspection. Trust me, it’s usually not worth the 3 month hall pass to have an inspector “upgrade” your level 2 inspection to a full level 1 DOT inspection. Level 1 inspections aren’t generally something that you should request or go looking for.
Can your DataQ a Level 2 Inspection?
You bet! You can submit any inspection for review under the FMCSA DataQ program. But, your chances of success in having a violation removed or changed is usually pretty low. But, based on our experience, Level 2 inspections have a better chance of success because of the potential for vehicle maintenance violations. Those are usually easier to have changed or corrected than a driver violation.
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