Escorting Vehicles with OOSC Violations to a Safe Location

Officer issues an Out-of-Service Violation on a Roadside Inspection form, either at a Fixed Location, Rest Area, or alongside the road, and informs the driver he/she will escort them to a safe location, i.e. next exit, a truck stop, or a location where the driver can safely, legally park for repairs. Or the Officer allows the driver to leave and drive to the next exit (without escort) where he/she can safely leave the roadway for repairs. However, the Officer does not document a Verification Code of Escort and/or a Remark stating this is what occurred on the Roadside Inspection form.

In order for the Carrier to confirm the order of events, concerning proof of corrections on Out-of-Service Violations, location of repairs, including the timeline of repairs, and since there are Verification Codes that are available for an Officer to utilize on the Roadside Inspection form, Officers must document if they escort the equipment to a repair facility or to a safe location where the driver can park for repairs or if driver was allow to leave (without escort) to the nearest exit. This will assure the Carrier the driver did not move on an Out-of-Service Order; however, if the driver did move the Carrier will have the needed confirmation if it was under the direction of the Officer and the Officer followed the equipment to a safe location for repairs or was allowed to leave on his own to the next exit. Additionally, if the equipment is Towed or Repaired at the Scene, the Officer should document the necessary Verification Code that applies to the action that occurred.

Officers should be required to document the necessary Verification Code that applies and/or document if the driver was allowed to leave (without escort) to the next exit including adding the exit number or truck stop’s name. To assist the Officers to use the Codes, and for the driver and carrier to understand the definition of each, the State can list the Verification Codes available on the Roadside Inspection form. Add a Comment Remark Section for additional documentation the Officer can use to state what occurred after the inspection.