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§396.25 — Qualifications of brake inspectors (a) Motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers must ensure that all inspections, maintenance, repairs or service to the brakes of its commercial motor vehicles, are performed in compliance with the requirements of this section. |
(b) For purposes of this section, brake inspector means any employee of a motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider who is responsible for ensuring that all brake inspections, maintenance, service, or repairs to any commercial motor vehicle, subject to the motor carrier's or intermodal equipment provider's control, meet the applicable Federal standards. |
(c) No motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider may require or permit any employee who does not meet the minimum brake inspector qualifications of paragraph (d) of this section to be responsible for the inspection, maintenance, service or repairs of any brakes on its commercial motor vehicles. |
(d) The motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider must ensure that each brake inspector is qualified as follows: (1) Understands the brake service or inspection task to be accomplished and can perform that task; and |
(2) Is knowledgeable of and has mastered the methods, procedures, tools and equipment used when performing an assigned brake service or inspection task; and |
(3) Is capable of performing the assigned brake service or inspection by reason of experience, training, or both as follows: (i) Has 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 |
(ii) Has brake-related training or experience or a combination thereof totaling at least one year. Such training or experience may consist of: [A] 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 |
[B] Experience performing brake maintenance or inspection similar to the assigned brake service or inspection task in a motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider maintenance program; or |
[C] 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. |
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(e) No motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider may employ any person as a brake inspector unless the evidence of the inspector's qualifications, required under this section, is maintained by the motor carrier or intermodal equipment provider 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 and for one year thereafter. However, motor carriers and intermodal equipment providers 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. |
[73 FR 76825, Dec. 17, 2008] §396.25 — DOT Regulatory Guidance Question 1: Does a CDL with an airbrake endorsement qualify a person as a brake inspector under §396.25? Guidance: No.
Question 2: May a driver who does not have the necessary experience perform the adjustment under directions issued by telephone by a qualified inspector? Guidance: Yes. A driver is permitted to perform brake adjustments at a roadside inspection providing they are done under the supervision of a qualified brake adjuster and the carrier is willing to assume responsibility for the proper adjustment.
Question 3: May a driver or other motor carrier employee be qualified as a brake inspector under §396.25 by way of experience or training to perform brake adjustments without being qualified to perform other brake-related tasks such as the repair or replacement of brake components? Guidance: Yes. A driver may be qualified by the motor carrier to perform a limited number of tasks in connection with the brake system, e.g., inspect and/or adjust the vehicle's brakes, but not repair them.
Question 4: Would a mechanic who is employed by a leasing company and only works on Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV)s that the leasing company leases to other motor carriers be required to meet the brake inspector certification requirements? Guidance: No. The mechanic is not required to meet the certification requirements of §396.25(d) since he/she is not employed by a motor carrier.
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