Vehicle Maintenance Compliance
49 CFR Part 396 requires systematic vehicle maintenance, annual inspections, and driver vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs) — a paper trail that has to prove defects are found and fixed, not just that a truck exists.
We track maintenance and inspection records for every vehicle in the fleet — DVIRs, annual inspections, repair documentation — so the paper trail proves defects are caught and fixed.
Clean maintenance records instead of a scramble to locate inspection paperwork when an auditor asks for it.
- 01Track annual inspection due dates for every vehicle.
- 02Maintain DVIR records and confirm defect resolution.
- 03File repair and maintenance documentation as it's generated.
- 04Flag any vehicle falling out of compliance.
What Part 396 actually requires
49 CFR Part 396 requires a systematic inspection and maintenance program and a periodic inspection meeting the minimum standards in Part 396 Appendix A, with the inspection report retained for 14 months. Drivers must prepare a written DVIR at the end of each day a safety-affecting defect is found (§396.11), and the carrier must retain the DVIR, repair certification, and driver-review certification for 3 months — records that exist specifically to show a defect wasn't just found, but actually fixed.
CVSA inspection levels and why they matter
Roadside inspections under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) system range from a Level I full inspection of both driver and vehicle, down to more limited Level II through VI inspections (Level VI adds radioactive-materials checks for certain hazmat loads) — the results feed directly into a carrier's CSA scores, so maintenance recordkeeping and roadside outcomes are directly connected.