Collection of Periodic Inspection Information in ASPEN

Adding additional lines in the ASPEN program to capture date and location name that preformed the last periodic inspection as required by Part 396.17 on units either placed OOS or ticketed for violations to requirements of Part 393. Currently there is no data base that tracks who has been doing the maintenance and inspections on CMV. While this is a carrier responsibility many rely on third party suppliers for their maintenance. During post accident investigation NTSB finding indicate improper maintenance practices as a cause in the accident. Post accident investigates shows there to be issues with maintenance/inspection procedures but only provides a very limited scope of the issue. With the established data ASPEN can and does provide maintenance locations could then be tracked for repeated vehicles being placed OOS or ticketed for violations to Part 393.

Aspen tracks both driver and vehicle violations of the FMCSR's. There is no system in place to track maintenance facilities to determine competency with the exception of post accident investigation. Utilizing the ASPEN system data base information could be gathered to identify maintenance facilities just as carriers and drivers are today. Locations identified by ASPEN as having preformed maintenance/inspections on vehicles being placed OOS or ticketed for violations could be contacted in an out reach program for training to improve their maintenance practices. Improved maintenance practices and understanding of requirements should result in few OOS and non OOS violations for carriers which should mean safer CMV on the highway.

Review possiblities of adding additional data fields to ASPEN to collect data on maintenance facilities in order to identify substandard maintenance practices. If it is found that additional fields could be added this would facilitate development of an out reach program to maintenance facilities showing up as possibly having substandard maintenance practices.