DOT & FMCSA Required Safety Equipment for Commercial Trucks It’s also important to note that the De- partment of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Adminis- tration (FMCSA) require commercial trucks to be stocked with specific emer- gency and safety gear. This includes fire extinguishers, reflective warning devices, and spare fuses. In some cases, first aid kits and other safety- related items, like high-visibility vests, are required. These regulations generally apply to Commercial Motor Vehicles over 10,000 lbs gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), buses, and any vehicle trans- porting placarded hazardous materials. In addition to carrying the proper equipment, drivers must complete a daily DOT inspection. Under 49 CFR 396.13, this involves checking all critical safety components and doc- umenting any defects on a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) – a mandated paper form that must be completed every day. Drivers must inspect brakes, tires, lights, steering, suspension, coupling, fluid levels, and the emergency equipment itself. If all of the above daily inspection items check off and no faults are identified, then the bucket truck is safe to operate.
It’s important to keep up with the maintenance and inspections of bucket trucks, even when it’s cold outside.
pivot points, and other components of the aerial lift. Dean advised for bucket trucks to be kept on regularly sched- uled maintenance. “You put grease in, it pushes out the old. That will help push out any of the abrasives, salt, or chemicals put on the road that can get in the aerial lift.” To prevent rust, corrosion, and paint damage during winter, Moses said to wash the truck every now and then. “Tree guys are often very tough on their trucks and they tend to let them go,” he stated. “A good washing or spray down every now and then helps clean off the tree acid and cleans off any of the grime and grit from the road that may affect the operations or get into the paint.” Annual Inspections Annual bucket truck inspections are comprehensive evaluations that are only performed by an authorized me- chanic who is OSHA- and ANSI-certi- fied. These inspections typically cover the hydraulic system, electrical compo- nents, structural integrity, and all safe- ty and restraint devices.
outside in the snow or cold, rain or wind,” he said. “It’s important to keep up with the maintenance and inspec- tions even when it’s cold outside.” A key focus during weekly inspections is the hydraulic system, electrical components, and chip body. Dean not- ed that in winter, operators should be aware that the lift may operate more slowly at first, but checking fluid levels remains important. “Be aware that the lift might run slow- er in the wintertime, but you still want to make sure you have enough fluid in there to begin with,” he said. While tank heaters are available for ex- tremely cold climates – like North Da- kota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, or north- ern Michigan – they are generally not required. “It’ll be real slow to begin with until the frictional oil moving through the machine warms it back up – but it’ll work,” Dean explained. Winter road conditions introduce ad- ditional hazards. Salt, sand, and other abrasives can accumulate in bearings,
Weekly Bucket Truck Maintenance & Inspections
Weekly inspections are a bit more de- tailed. These are more thorough assess- ments that check the bucket truck’s performance after it has been used for a week of work. Dean emphasized that it’s import- ant to stay consistent with scheduled inspections and maintenance, even in challenging weather conditions. “Sometimes maintenance is over- looked, especially if the truck is parked outside, because nobody wants to be
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