A driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) is a written or electronic report a commercial motor vehicle driver prepares at the end of each day's work, listing any defect or deficiency that could affect safe operation or cause a mechanical breakdown. FMCSA requires DVIRs under 49 CFR 396.11, and the motor carrier must repair listed defects and certify the repairs.
The DVIR closes the loop between drivers, who see vehicle problems first, and the maintenance team responsible for fixing them. Done well, it keeps unsafe vehicles off the road and gives the carrier a documented maintenance trail for audits and roadside inspections.
What Is a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report?
Under 49 CFR 396.11(a), every motor carrier must require its drivers to report, and every driver must prepare a report in writing, at the completion of each day's work on each vehicle operated. The report must identify the vehicle and list any defect or deficiency discovered by or reported to the driver that would affect the safety of operation or result in mechanical breakdown. The driver signs the report.
At a minimum, the DVIR must cover 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
Drivers often call the end-of-day check a post-trip inspection. The DVIR is the record of that inspection.
Who Must Complete a DVIR?
The requirement applies to drivers of commercial motor vehicles operated by motor carriers subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Section 396.11(a)(5) exempts three groups:
- Private motor carriers of passengers (nonbusiness)
- Driveaway-towaway operations
- Motor carriers operating only one commercial motor vehicle
Intermodal equipment has its own provisions under 396.11(b), which require drivers to report known damage or defects in chassis and other intermodal equipment to the equipment provider.
When a DVIR is not required
Under 396.11(a)(2), a driver is not required to prepare a report if no defect or deficiency is discovered by or reported to the driver. FMCSA removed the no-defect report requirement for property-carrying drivers in 2014, and a 2020 final rule extended the same relief to drivers of passenger-carrying vehicles, according to FMCSA. Many carriers still require a daily DVIR from every driver as company policy, because a report showing no defects documents that the inspection took place.
Key DVIR Requirements for Motor Carriers
Repair defects before the next trip
Before requiring or permitting a driver to operate the vehicle again, the carrier or its agent must repair any listed defect or deficiency likely to affect safe operation. The carrier must then certify on the original DVIR that the defect has been repaired or that repair is unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again.
Driver review before driving
Under 49 CFR 396.13, before driving, a driver must be satisfied that the vehicle is in safe operating condition and must review the last DVIR. If defects were noted, the driver signs the report to acknowledge the review and that the repair certification is present. This step confirms the next driver knows the vehicle was fixed, not just reported.
Record retention
The carrier must keep the original DVIR, the certification of repairs and the certification of the driver's review for 3 months from the date the report was prepared.
Paper or electronic
Carriers may use paper forms or electronic DVIR systems, as long as the report captures the required information, the signatures and the repair certifications, and records can be produced when requested.
DVIR vs. Pre-Trip Inspection vs. Roadside Inspection
These terms are related but not the same:
- Pre-trip inspection (49 CFR 392.7): before driving, the driver must be satisfied that key parts, such as brakes, steering, lights, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and emergency equipment, are in good working order. FMCSA does not require a written pre-trip report, though many carriers use one.
- DVIR (49 CFR 396.11): the written post-trip report of defects at the end of the day, followed by repair certification.
- Roadside inspection: an inspection by enforcement personnel. Vehicle maintenance violations found during roadside inspections are counted in FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program under the Vehicle Maintenance BASIC.
Strong DVIR and pre-trip habits are one of the most direct ways to reduce out-of-service orders and vehicle maintenance violations at the roadside.
How to Complete a DVIR: Step by Step
- Inspect the vehicle at the end of the day. Walk around the power unit and any trailer, checking each required item and anything else that seems wrong.
- Record vehicle details. Identify the vehicle, for example by unit number or VIN, plus the trailer number and date.
- Describe each defect clearly. Write what is wrong and where, for example "left rear outer tire on trailer, sidewall bulge," rather than "tire issue."
- Sign the report. The driver's signature confirms the report is accurate.
- Route it to maintenance. Get the report to the person responsible for repairs promptly, so defects can be fixed before the next dispatch.
- Repair and certify. Maintenance repairs the defect or determines that repair is unnecessary, then signs the certification on the report.
- Next driver reviews and signs. The next driver reviews the DVIR and repair certification before driving and signs to acknowledge it.
- File the record. Keep the completed report for at least 3 months.
Example of a DVIR in practice
The following scenario is hypothetical. At the end of a shift, a driver notices the left marker lamp on the trailer is out and the air brake glad hand seal is cracked and leaking. The driver lists both defects on the DVIR and signs it.
The shop replaces the lamp and the seal that evening, and the technician certifies on the report that both defects were repaired. The next morning, a different driver reviews the DVIR, sees the repair certification, signs the report and completes a pre-trip inspection before leaving. FMCSA guidance also clarifies that a DVIR carried on a power unit must cover the power unit being operated, while the trailer listed may be one pulled on the preceding trip, according to FMCSA interpretive guidance.
Common DVIR Mistakes to Avoid
- Pencil-whipping: checking every box without actually inspecting the vehicle.
- Vague descriptions: notes such as "brakes" that do not tell the technician what to look for.
- Missing repair certifications: fixing a defect but not signing off on the report.
- No driver review: the next driver not reviewing and signing a DVIR that listed defects.
- Discarding records early: keeping reports for less than 3 months.
- Disconnected follow-up: defects that are reported repeatedly without a corrective action that fixes the underlying cause.
Best Practices for DVIR Programs
Train drivers on what a defect looks like and how to describe it, and refresh that training when equipment changes. Track open defects until closed, and treat repeat defects on the same unit as a trigger for corrective and preventive action. Review DVIR data in periodic audits alongside maintenance records and roadside inspection results.
DVIRs also connect to other fleet records. Each driver's driver qualification file shows they are qualified to operate the vehicle, while a vehicle accident register documents crashes. Reviewing these records together can reveal whether vehicle condition played a role in incidents.
How SMS360 Helps
The SMS360 Vehicle Management module helps fleets keep vehicle inspection and maintenance records organized by unit. Drivers can record inspections from a mobile device, defects can be assigned to the people responsible for repairs, and managers can track open items until they are closed. Stored records make it easier to produce DVIRs and repair history during an audit, and dashboards help identify vehicles with recurring problems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you have to keep a DVIR?
Motor carriers must keep the original driver vehicle inspection report, the certification of repairs and the certification of the driver's review for 3 months from the date the report was prepared, under 49 CFR 396.11(a)(4). Many carriers keep DVIRs longer as part of the vehicle maintenance history, especially for units with recurring defects.
Is a DVIR required if there are no defects?
Not under federal rules. Since FMCSA rule changes in 2014 for property carriers and 2020 for passenger carriers, a driver does not need to prepare a DVIR if no defect or deficiency is discovered by or reported to them. Carriers may still require a daily report as company policy, and some state rules may differ for intrastate operations.
What items must be inspected on a DVIR?
The DVIR must cover at least the 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, and emergency equipment. Drivers should also report any other defect they find that would affect safety or could cause a breakdown.
Who signs a DVIR?
The driver who prepares the report signs it. If defects are listed, the carrier or its agent certifies that each defect was repaired or that repair is unnecessary. The next driver then reviews the report before operating the vehicle and signs to acknowledge the review and the repair certification.
