The Biennial Inspection of Terminal Program was changed in 2016 to the Basic Inspection of Terminals Program. This is the California version of a DOT inspection. In a sense, it’s part Department of Transportation inspection and part fleet inspection.
To understand the BIT program and what it entails, it’s important to read this blog for helpful information. You’ll focus on maintenance issues and why heavy-duty truck repair might be required. Let’s get started.
What’s a BIT Inspection?
A BIT inspection is the common slang used for 90-day checkups that are performed on a commercial motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or greater.
The Motor Carrier Safety regulations used to state that vehicles over 26,001 pounds were required to participate, but this changed in 2016. Unsurprisingly, most lighter trucks aren’t getting the BIT inspections as they should. Though you might not have been fined or written up, it’s only a matter of time.
You might be wondering what a 90-day BIT inspection is. In calfornia it’s similar to DOT inspections. Someone will check the safety system and look for potential problems. However, the main difference between them is their frequency and the fact there is no smoke opacity testing with the BIT.
Here are a few areas the inspectors look at:
- Defroster
- Functional lights
- Tire tread depth
- Wiper blades
Primarily, the focus of a DOT or BIT inspection is safety. If you’re in the vehicle weight rating and have a CA number, it’s important to have your system components checked. Then, you can request service or a repair if necessary.
Overall, safer vehicles lead to less danger to others.
How Often Will You Require a BIT Inspection?
If you’re driving intrastate (only or mostly in California), your vehicles must be inspected every 90 days using the BIT system.
However, with the BIT program, some vehicles require more frequent checkups, such as passenger buses. They must pass inspections every 45 days.
Therefore, routine maintenance is crucial. Service your vehicles and repair them to avoid a failing grade.
Who Can Perform a BIT Inspection in California?
BIT inspections are usually performed by your diesel technician. Though you can do your own checkup, you need a third party to look at your vehicle. That’s where you might need a help from a United Fleet Management expert.
Diesel technicians require certain qualifications and experience before performing BIT inspections. They must have one of the following:
- Complete a federal or state training program
- Have a state certificate
- Be from a Canadian province that qualifies the person to perform vehicle safety inspections
Alternatively, those performing BIT inspections can have a combination of experience and training totaling one year and at least one of these:
- Experience as federal or state commercial vehicle inspector
- Experience as an inspector or mechanic for a commercial garage or vehicle maintenance team
- Experience as a mechanic/inspector
- Participate in a training program sponsored by truck manufacturers
Basically, the inspector must have a year’s worth of work experience dealing with commercial truck service and repair.
However, they must also be certified and qualified to inspect brakes. Ultimately, the requirements are similar for BIT to those for DOT. They require:
- A certificate from a Canadian or state province
- One or more years of experience with brakes, a motor carrier program, a vehicle manufacturer, a commercial garage company, a shop, or a fleet leasing company
Do I Need BIT Inspections and DOT Inspections in California?
Do you require BIT and DOT inspections? Typically, the BIT inspection takes the place of your DOT inspection. However, a DOT inspection can’t be used instead of a BIT because of timing.
Usually, a DOT inspection happens yearly, though a BIT inspection occurs every 90 days.
Here’s an example. You have the DOT inspection on March 1, so it acts as the BIT inspection until May 30. Once those 90 days are over, you must get your BIT inspection or stop operating the truck in that state.
If you’re an interstate driver (going to any other state besides California), you’ll need the DOT. Though the BIT might satisfy those requirements, officers in another state might not know what it is. You should focus on compliance everywhere.
It’s wise to choose a truck repair service before you need one. Likewise, you must consider trailer repair before the next inspection date.
What to Do After BIT Inspections
Once you pass the inspection, you’ll receive the Basic Inspection of Terminals certificate and give copies to your customers to keep. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) can then review them whenever they want.
Ultimately, the CHP visits your client’s facilities to see how the vehicles look. They do a bi-annual inspection of the home base for all trucks. Usually, it wants to see 20 percent of the fleet, so if your customer owns 10 trucks, two are checked. Alternatively, 100 trucks require 20 inspections.
Typically, the CHP spends an hour or so poking around your trucks. This means the undercarriage, under the hood, tires, brakes, and more. Every inch of the vehicles are inspected.
Likewise, the CHP will look at maintenance and driver records and go through the 90-day inspection checklists that the shop or mechanic completed for each truck in the fleet for the last two years. It also checks on the write-ups you’ve gotten.
For example, a technician said that a truck required new brakes or wipers. The CHP officer wants to see the work order or invoice for the service or repair.
Apart from maintenance records, the CHP will check the drivers to see if they’re licensed and have CDLs.
Basically, the CHP ensures that repairs are done on each truck and that everything is updated. This is why record-keeping is crucial.
Likewise, mobile truck repair receipts are also important. Keep track of everything relating to your fleet.
Passing or Non-passing Rating
A “satisfactory” is a passing grade. Otherwise, you’ll get an “Unsatisfactory.”
Most people fall somewhere in between because there are minor issues. The CHP will likely offer 30 days for compliance, so get diesel truck repair quickly and request a re-check.
Final Thoughts on California BIT Inspections
If you plan to operate a large truck in California, be prepared to have it inspected in the BIT. You’ll likely need a repair service for your vehicles that don’t pass, and it’s also wise to keep track of everything.
Make sure you have fleet maintenance management software to keep track of your trucks. Call for repairs as soon as possible.
Hopefully, this blog helped you understand the BIT rules better.
