Preventive Maintenance Intervals for Transit Buses (2010)

Below is the uncorrected machine-read text of this chapter, intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text of each book. Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.

54 PART 396.3—INSPECTION, REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE This subsection requires every motor carrier to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain all motor vehicles subject to its control. Of particular interest to transit is a requirement that push-out windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights in buses be inspected at least every 90 days. Every agency’s PM program must abide with this requirement or risk legal consequences. Another requirement is that all records pertaining to vehicle inspections be kept for a period of one year and for six months after the motor vehicle leaves the motor carrier’s control. Records need to include the nature and due date of the various inspections, maintenance operations to be performed at each inspection, and a record of tests conducted on push-out windows, emergency doors, and emergency door marking lights on buses. PARTS 396.11 & 396.13—DRIVER INSPECTIONS & REPORTS To comply with this subsection, bus operators must report in writing at the completion of each day’s work the condition of vital parts and accessories including: – Service brakes – Parking (hand) brake – Steering mechanism – Lighting devices and reflectors – Tires – Horn – Windshield wipers – Rear vision mirrors – Coupling devices – Wheels and rims – Emergency equipment. The inspection report requires operators to list any defect or deficiency that would affect the safety of the vehicle or result in its mechanical breakdown. If no defect or deficiency is discov- ered by the driver, the report needs to indicate this. Any safety- related defect listed on the driver vehicle inspection report must be repaired before that vehicle can be placed back into service. All operator reports and corrective action must be kept for three months. PART 396.17—PERIODIC INSPECTIONS This subsection requires every commercial motor vehicle to be inspected. Specific parts are detailed in Part 396 Appendix G of the requirement (additional information provided below). Agen- cies are required to keep records of the inspections; failure to conform may result in penalties. PART 396.19—INSPECTOR QUALIFICATIONS Agencies are legal responsibly for ensuring that technicians performing inspections are qualified. Inspectors must under- stand the inspection criteria set forth in 49 CFR Part 393, Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation (see below) and Appendix G of this subsection (also see below), and must be capable of identifying defective components. Inspectors must be knowledgeable of and have mastered the methods, proce- dures, tools and equipment used to perform inspections, and must be capable of performing inspection through experience, training, or both. To meet training requirements technicians must have suc- cessfully completed a State or Federal-sponsored training pro- gram, or have a combination of training and/or experience totaling at least one year. Records of technician qualifications must be retained by the agency throughout employment and for one year afterwards. PART 396.21—PERIODIC INSPECTION RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS Under this subsection, agencies are required to complete a report that identifies the: – Individual performing the inspection; – Agency operating the vehicle; – Date of the inspection; – Vehicle inspected; – Vehicle components inspected and describes the results of the inspection, including the identification of components not meeting the minimum standards set forth in Part 396 Appendix G below; and that – Certifies the accuracy and completeness of the inspection as complying with all requirements of Section 396. A copy of the inspection report needs to be retained by the agency for fourteen months from the date of the inspection report and made available if needed to Federal, State or local officials. PART 396.25—QUALIFICATIONS OF BRAKE INSPECTORS Because of the obvious safety implications of braking systems, those who perform inspections, maintenance, repairs or service to commercial vehicle brakes must comply with specific require- ments. They must: – Understand the brake service or inspection task to be accomplished and can perform that task; APPENDIX C CFR 49, Part 396, DOT Inspection Requirements

55 – Be knowledgeable of and have mastered the methods, pro- cedures, tools and equipment used to perform an assigned brake service or inspection task; and – Be capable of performing the assigned brake service or inspection by experience, training or both. Training and experience requirements are satisfied when techni- cians have successfully completed a certified apprenticeship and/or training program, or have brake-related training or experi- ence totaling at least one year. Such training or experience may consist of participation in formal training programs from OEMs or other sources, or experience obtained from performing brake main- tenance or inspection in a similar maintenance program including a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, or similar facility. Agencies are not allowed to employ any person as a brake inspector unless evidence of the inspector’s qualifications can be produced. Such evidence must be maintained for the period dur- ing which the brake inspector is employed in that capacity and for one year thereafter. Agencies are not required to maintain evidence of qualifications to conduct air brake inspections if technicians have passed the air brake knowledge and skills test as part of their Commercial Driver’s License. PART 396—APPENDIX G: MINIMUM PERIODIC INSPECTION STANDARDS Attached to FMCSA’s Vehicle Related Regulations Part 396 is Appendix G, which describes the minimum criteria needed for passing inspections. This FMCSA appendix addresses several vehicle areas including brakes, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering, suspension, frame, tires, wheel and rims, windshield glazing, and windshield wipers. Part 396 Appendix G is extremely detailed and identifies spe- cific defects: includes pass/fail criteria for several vehicle areas. Using brakes as an example, the table below shows a sampling of the maximum stroke at which brakes should be readjusted for bolt type air brake chambers. The requirement specifies that any brake 1⁄4″ or more past the readjustment limit shall be cause for rejection, and that the stroke shall be measured with engine off and reservoir pressure of 80 to 90 pounds per square inch (psi) with brakes fully applied. CRITERIA FOR MAXIMUM BRAKE STROKE Effective Outside Maximum stroke at which area diameter brakes should be readjusted (sq. in.) (in.) (in.) 24 93⁄16 13⁄4 30 97⁄8 2 36 11 21⁄4 There are many other Part 396 Appendix G examples where minimum inspection criteria are clearly identified. Again, agencies need to become thoroughly familiar with these requirements and ensure all PM inspections and related check list criteria are consis- tent with this requirement. Agencies should also consider flagging conditions that do not meet Part 396 Appendix G requirements to distinguish them as requiring repair before the bus is allowed to resume revenue service.