DVIR Guide: Pre Trip and Post Trip Inspection Checklist
Rules, prices and device details on this page were checked October 2026 against the official sources listed at the bottom. Where a provider doesn't publish a number, we say so instead of guessing.
A good inspection catches the bad brake chamber in the yard instead of on the shoulder of the interstate. The driver vehicle inspection report, or DVIR, is how that inspection gets written down, fixed and signed off. The rules are short, but there are a few details people get wrong all the time. Here's what FMCSA requires, checklists you can actually use, and how electronic DVIRs make the whole thing faster. Regulations checked October 2026 on eCFR.
What a DVIR Is
A DVIR is a written report a driver makes about the condition of a vehicle. It's covered by 49 CFR 396.11 (the end of day report) and 396.13 (the driver's check before driving). In practice, most fleets talk about a pre trip and a post trip inspection:
- Pre trip: before driving, the driver makes sure the vehicle is safe and reviews the last report.
- Post trip: at the end of the day's work, the driver reports any defects found.
The DVIR is separate from your ELD logs, but many ELD apps include it, which is why it comes up so often when fleets shop for an ELD.
FMCSA Requirements
The end of day report
Under 396.11(a), every motor carrier must require its drivers to prepare a written report at the end of each day's work on each vehicle operated. The report must cover at least these parts and accessories:
- Service brakes, including trailer brake connections
- Parking brake
- Steering mechanism
- Lighting devices and reflectors
- Tires
- Horn
- Windshield wipers
- Rear vision mirrors
- Coupling devices
- Wheels and rims
- Emergency equipment
The report has to identify the vehicle and list any defect or deficiency that would affect safe operation or cause a breakdown. If a driver runs more than one vehicle in a day, each one needs its own report. And here's a detail many fleets miss: under the current rule, drivers aren't required to prepare a report if no defect or deficiency was found or reported. Many carriers still require a report every day as policy, which is fine.
The driver must sign the report. In two driver operations, only one needs to sign, as long as both agree on the defects.
Before driving
Under 396.13, before driving, the driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition, review the last DVIR if one was required, and sign it to acknowledge they reviewed it and that repairs were certified. That signature isn't required for defects listed on a towed unit that's no longer part of the combination.
Who's exempt
396.11(a) doesn't apply to private motor carriers of passengers (nonbusiness), driveaway towaway operations, or any motor carrier operating only one commercial motor vehicle. Intermodal equipment has its own reporting process under 396.11(b).
Pre Trip Checklist
Here's a practical walkaround that covers the required items and the common roadside problems. Adapt it to your equipment.
- Review the last DVIR and confirm any defects were repaired and signed off.
- Look under the truck for fresh leaks: oil, coolant, fuel or air.
- Engine compartment: fluid levels, belts, hoses and wiring.
- Lights and reflectors: headlights, turn signals, brake lights, clearance lights and reflective tape.
- Tires: inflation, tread depth, cuts and bulges, and nothing stuck between duals.
- Wheels and rims: loose or missing lug nuts, cracks and rust trails.
- Brakes: chambers, slack adjusters, hoses and air lines. Check air pressure buildup and listen for leaks.
- Coupling: fifth wheel locked, kingpin secure, glad hands and electrical line connected.
- Steering: excessive play, and loose or damaged components.
- In the cab: horn, wipers, mirrors, gauges and the parking brake.
- Emergency equipment: fire extinguisher, warning triangles and spare fuses if required.
- Paperwork: registration, insurance and your ELD's in cab packet.
Post Trip Checklist
The post trip is about catching what changed during the day, so the next driver or mechanic knows about it.
- Walk around again and look for new damage, leaks or flat tires.
- Note anything you noticed while driving: pulling, vibrations, warning lights, weak brakes or air pressure problems.
- Check lights one more time, since bulbs often fail on the road.
- Inspect tires and wheels for heat damage or new cuts.
- Write up every defect clearly, with its location, so a mechanic can find it.
- Sign the report and submit it.
What Happens After a Defect Is Reported
Defect reporting
Be specific. "Brakes bad" doesn't help anyone. "Right rear drive axle brake chamber leaking air" does. Photos help too, and most eDVIR apps let drivers attach them.
Mechanic sign off
Under 396.11(a)(3), before the vehicle is driven again, the carrier must repair any listed defect likely to affect safe operation. The carrier must then certify on the report that the defect was repaired or that repair isn't needed. The next driver reviews and signs it as part of the pre trip.
When a defect makes the truck unsafe
If a defect is serious, like a brake problem or a flat steer tire, don't drive. Report it right away and call maintenance or your dispatcher. The carrier can't require or permit the truck to be driven until defects likely to affect safety are repaired. A minor issue, like a cracked marker lens, still goes on the report so it gets fixed, but the mechanic may certify that repair isn't needed right away for safe operation.
Record retention
Carriers must keep the DVIR, the repair certification and the driver's review signature for three months from the date the report was prepared.
Tips for Better Inspections
Rules aside, a DVIR is only useful if people take it seriously. A few habits help:
- Make it routine. Do the walkaround in the same order every time so nothing gets missed, even when you're in a hurry.
- Budget the time. A real pre trip takes a while. Drivers who feel rushed skip steps, so build the time into the schedule.
- Close the loop. If drivers report defects and nothing gets fixed, they'll stop reporting. Show them repairs happen.
- Don't punish honest reports. You want drivers flagging problems, not hiding them.
- Review trends. Repeated defects on the same truck or part point to a deeper maintenance issue.
- Train new drivers. Walk them through your checklist and your app on day one.
Roadside inspectors check many of the same items on your list, so a solid pre trip is also your best way to avoid out of service orders.
Electronic DVIR in Your ELD
DVIRs can be created and kept electronically under 49 CFR 390.32, and most ELD apps now include an eDVIR. Benefits include:
- Guided inspections so nothing gets skipped.
- Photos attached to each defect.
- Instant alerts to maintenance when a defect is reported.
- Digital sign off by the mechanic and the next driver.
- Automatic storage for the retention period, with no lost paper.
- Integration with maintenance software like Fleetio, which can turn defects into work orders.
Some systems also verify that the driver actually walked around the truck. Zonar's EVIR, for example, uses tags on the vehicle to confirm the driver was at each inspection point.
Looking for an app that handles both logs and DVIRs? See our list of the best ELD apps, and our ELD mandate guide for the logging rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a DVIR required every day?
Drivers must prepare a report at the end of each day's work on each vehicle operated, but under the current 396.11 they are not required to prepare one if no defect or deficiency was found or reported. Many carriers still require daily reports as policy.
How long must DVIRs be kept?
Carriers must keep the DVIR, the repair certification and the driver's review signature for three months from the date the report was prepared.
Can DVIRs be electronic?
Yes. DVIRs can be created and maintained electronically under 49 CFR 390.32, and most ELD apps include an eDVIR.
Who is exempt from DVIR requirements?
396.11(a) does not apply to private motor carriers of passengers (nonbusiness), driveaway towaway operations, or motor carriers operating only one commercial motor vehicle.
Sources
All prices, terms and registration details were checked October 2026 on the pages below. Providers change pricing often, so confirm before you buy.