Overview
No motor carrier may require or permit any employee who does not meet the minimum brake inspector qualifications to be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, service or repairs of any brakes on its commercial motor vehicles. The motor carrier must ensure that each brake inspector is qualified as follows:
- Understands the brake service or inspection task to be accomplished and can perform that task; and
- Is knowledgeable of and has mastered the methods, procedures, tools and equipment used when performing an assigned brake service or inspection task; and
- Is capable of performing the assigned brake service or inspection by reason of experience, training or both.
Brake inspectors must either:
- Have successfully completed an apprenticeship program sponsored by a State, a Canadian Province, a Federal agency or a labor union, or a training program approved by a State, Provincial or Federal agency or has a certificate from a State or Canadian Province that qualifies the person to perform the assigned brake service or inspection task (including passage of Commercial Driver’s License air brake tests in the case of a brake inspection); or
- Have brake-related training or experience, or a combination thereof, totaling at least one year.
Inspectors may have gained experience or training by:
- Participation in a training program sponsored by a brake or vehicle manufacturer, or similar commercial training program designed to train students in brake maintenance or inspection similar to the assigned brake service or inspection tasks; or
- Experience performing brake maintenance or inspection similar to the assigned brake service or inspection task in a motor carrier maintenance program; or
- Experience performing brake maintenance or inspection similar to the assigned brake service or inspection task at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company or similar facility.
No motor carrier may employ any person as a brake inspector unless the evidence of the inspector’s qualifications is maintained by the motor carrier at its principal place of business or at the location at which the brake inspector is employed. The evidence must be maintained for the period during which the brake inspector is employed in that capacity plus one year. However, motor carriers do not have to maintain evidence of qualifications to inspect air brake systems for such inspections performed by persons who have passed the air brake knowledge and skills test for a Commercial Driver’s License.
Brake inspector – any employee of a motor carrier who is responsible for ensuring that all brake inspections, maintenance, service or repairs to any commercial motor vehicle, subject to the motor carrier’s control, meet the applicable Federal standards.