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Free DVIR form
The driver vehicle inspection report, ready to fill in on your phone at the end of the day or print blank for the cab. Every item the rule lists, the defects and remarks, and the sign-offs for the repair and the next driver.
- All 11 items in 396.11
- Works on a phone
- Prints blank to keep in the truck
Driver Vehicle Inspection Report
Truck #
Trailer #
Odometer
Location
| Item | OK | Defect | Remarks |
|---|
Driver's name
Driver's signature
Repairs
☐ Defects above have been corrected
☐ Defects above need not be corrected for safe operation
Mechanic or carrier signature
Date
Next driver
I have reviewed this report and, where defects were listed, the certification of repair.
Next driver's signature
Date
Keep for 3 months from the date it was prepared (49 CFR 396.11).
Kept in this browser only. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
What the rule says
The DVIR is in 49 CFR 396.11. At the end of the day, a driver who found a defect, or had one reported to them, writes a report that identifies the vehicle and lists the defect, and signs it. A driver who found nothing wrong does not have to write one (396.11(a)(2)(i)), though plenty of carriers have one filled in every day so there is a record either way.
The report has to cover at least:
- Service brakes, including trailer brake connections
- Parking brake
- Steering mechanism
- Lighting devices and reflectors
- Tires
- Horn
- Windshield wipers
- Rear vision mirrors
- Coupling devices
- Wheels and rims
- Emergency equipment
After a defect is written down
| Who | What | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| The carrier | Certifies on the report that each defect was repaired, or that the repair is not needed, before the vehicle runs again | 396.11(a)(3) |
| The next driver | Is satisfied the vehicle is safe, reviews the last report, and signs it to say they saw it and the repair certification | 396.13 |
| The carrier | Keeps the report and the certification for 3 months | 396.11(a)(4) |
A DVIR is not the same as the maintenance records you keep for each vehicle under 396.3. Those are the maintenance log; this is the driver's report of what they found.
Common questions
Do I need a DVIR if I found no defects?
Not under 396.11(a)(2)(i): a driver is not required to prepare a report if no defect or deficiency is found by or reported to them. Many carriers ask for one every day anyway.
Is a paper DVIR good enough?
Yes. The rule asks for a written report signed by the driver, not software. Print this one blank and keep a stack in the truck.
One report for the truck and the trailer?
One report can cover the combination: put both unit numbers at the top, and say in the remarks which unit a defect is on.
How long do I keep them?
Three months from the date the report was prepared, with the repair certification (396.11(a)(4)).
Keep going
Truck maintenance log
The record DOT expects for every truck and trailer.
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