During last year’s DOT Blitz Week, nearly 1 in 4 truckers were sidelined. Of those cited, 20% were sidelined for tire violations. The USDOT is cracking down on tire issues. In just 5 years, 446,000 citations have been issued for tread depth violations.
Whether you get sidelined by the USDOT or a tire failure, both can be financially devastating.
Here’s what the USDOT is doing and how you can stay compliant.
USDOT Cracking Down on Tread Depth
The USDOT is trying to send a message about tire violations.
If a carrier is found with tire infractions, it will be penalized with 8 CSA points (10 being the most severe infraction possible).
That’s more points than driving without a door.
Not only are the penalties for infractions becoming more severe, but inspections are also becoming more frequent. The FMCSA reports an uptick of 20% more inspections since 2021.
What’s Getting Carriers Sidelined?
Specifically, semi-truck tires must meet the following criteria to remain compliant:
- Steer tire depth must be greater than 4/32”
- All other tires must be greater than 2/32”
- All tires must never be underinflated by more than 20 PSI
If any of these conditions are not met, violations will ensue.
How Much Do Violations Cost?
Individual violations may rack up to $2,364 in fines.
If a carrier is sidelined, they must consider downtime costs, emergency service calls, insurance rate increases, loads rejections due to poor safety scores, and more.
How to Prevent Getting Sidelined
Though the consequences for tire violations can be costly, they are wholly preventable.
Follow these three tips to stay off the USDOT’s radar:
Always change tires at 6/32” for steer tires and 4/32” for all other tires.
Staying ahead of tread depth is a guaranteed way to prevent USDOT violations.
If your tread depth is low, England Carrier Services offers special pricing on major tire brands.
Simply select your preferred tire below:
- Michelin
- BFGoodrich
- Bridgestone
- Uniroyal
- Firestone
- Yokohama
- Cooper
- Goodyear Endurance
- Goodyear Marathon
- Continental
- General
- Hankook
Check tire pressure daily.
Pressure can change rapidly and quietly. With the increase in USDOT inspections, never skip a day of checking tire pressure.
Perform a manual tread depth check weekly.
Performing a manual tread depth check weekly is essential. This inspection can help prevent malformities from growing in severity.
The USDOT is cracking down on tire depth infringements at a historic intensity. Violations and sidelines can make for an enormous financial burden to carriers.
By installing fresh tires and conducting regular inspections, you steer clear of USDOT fines.
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The England Carrier Services (ECS) division offers various services for carriers ranging from maintenance to support. As ECS members, carriers have access to nationwide discounts on fuel and tires from dedicated team members committed to finding the best price. ECS also provides factoring services with benefits such as same-day funding to a bank account or fuel card. These options allow carriers the freedom to focus on growing their business while saving time and money.