Fillable checklist

Post Trip Inspection Checklist: CMV End-of-Day DVIR (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable CMV post-trip DVIR: vehicle and trailer ID, ending miles, 11 stations, defects, driver and carrier sign-off. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Pre & Post Trip Fillable form · 11 sections · 44 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against 49 CFR 396.11, 396.13 and FMCSA DVIR Q&As · Last verified Aug 31, 2026

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  • 11 sections
  • 44 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Vehicle, driver, and end of trip

Identify the power unit and trailer at the end of the day's work. This is a 49 CFR 396.11 driver vehicle inspection report, not a pre-trip walkaround.

18 fields
Vehicle, driver, and end of trip

Inspection station

Service brakes, including trailer brake connections

Mark N/A on hydraulic rows if the unit is air-braked, and N/A on trailer connections if you ran a straight truck. Report defects found during the run or at shutdown.

7 items
Service brakes, including trailer brake connections

Service brake performance during the run

Pull, fade, delayed response, grabbing, or the unit would not stop in a straight line. List which axle or end if you can tell.

Service brake performance during the run: OK, Defect, N/A

Air leaks at shutdown (if air equipped)

Hoses, fittings, chambers, or valves hissing or damaged. Mark N/A on a hydraulic-brake unit.

Air leaks at shutdown (if air equipped): OK, Defect, N/A

Trailer brake connections

Supply and control gladhands seated and locked, hoses not cut, chafed, or leaking. Mark N/A on a straight truck or bobtail.

Trailer brake connections: OK, Defect, N/A

Tractor protection / trailer emergency (if equipped)

Problem with tractor protection, trailer emergency valve, or trailer brakes not applying or releasing. Mark N/A on a straight truck or hydraulic unit.

Tractor protection / trailer emergency (if equipped): OK, Defect, N/A

Hydraulic brakes (if equipped)

Soft pedal, warning lamp, fluid leak, or assist failure. Mark N/A if the unit has air brakes.

Hydraulic brakes (if equipped): OK, Defect, N/A

Visible brake damage or contamination

Broken chamber, missing parts, or grease or oil on accessible linings, pads, drums, or rotors. Do not crawl under the vehicle unless your carrier procedure requires it.

Visible brake damage or contamination: OK, Defect, N/A

Brake or ABS warning stayed on

Dash or trailer ABS lamp stayed on, or a brake warning activated during the run. Name tractor or trailer in Notes.

Brake or ABS warning stayed on: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Parking (hand) brake

Mark trailer parking N/A on a straight truck. Report a parking brake that would not hold at shutdown or failed during the day.

4 items
Parking (hand) brake

Parking brake holds the power unit

With the parking brake set, the tractor or truck does not roll on the grade where you parked.

Parking brake holds the power unit: OK, Defect, N/A

Trailer parking / spring brakes

Trailer parking or spring brakes apply and hold. Mark N/A on a straight truck or bobtail.

Trailer parking / spring brakes: OK, Defect, N/A

Parking control, valves, or cables

Knob, lever, cable, or valve damaged, leaking, or will not set or release.

Parking control, valves, or cables: OK, Defect, N/A

Parking brake event during the day

Unit rolled, parking brake would not set, or a parking-brake warning occurred on the road or at a stop.

Parking brake event during the day: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Steering mechanism

Report steering defects you felt on the road or can see at shutdown. This is not the CDL skills-test lash demonstration.

4 items
Steering mechanism

Steering on the road

Wander, binding, shimmy, or unusual play noticed while driving.

Steering on the road: OK, Defect, N/A

Steering box, column, or linkage

Loose, leaking, cracked, or missing fasteners on the box, column, drag link, tie rod, or pitman arm that you can see without going under the vehicle.

Steering box, column, or linkage: OK, Defect, N/A

Power steering (if equipped)

Assist lost, pump noise, or fluid leak. Mark N/A if not equipped.

Power steering (if equipped): OK, Defect, N/A

Steering wheel and column mount

Wheel loose on the column, cracked through, or column not securely fastened.

Steering wheel and column mount: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Lighting devices and reflectors

Cover the power unit and the trailer. Mark trailer rows N/A on a straight truck. Report any required lamp or reflector that is inoperative, broken, or missing.

6 items
Lighting devices and reflectors

Headlamps and front required lamps

Low and high beam, front turns, front markers, and front clearance or ID lamps if the unit is required to have them. Note which lamp failed.

Headlamps and front required lamps: OK, Defect, N/A

Turn signals and 4-way flashers

Left, right, and hazards on the power unit and trailer (if coupled). A lamp that worked at dispatch and failed during the run still belongs on this report.

Turn signals and 4-way flashers: OK, Defect, N/A

Tail, stop, and rear ID or clearance lamps

On a combination, inspect the rear of the trailer. Stop lamps must come on with the service brake.

Tail, stop, and rear ID or clearance lamps: OK, Defect, N/A

Side markers and reflex reflectors

Side-marker lamps and reflex reflectors present, proper color, not broken or missing on tractor and trailer.

Side markers and reflex reflectors: OK, Defect, N/A

Trailer lamps and conspicuity markings

Trailer lamps work. Retroreflective sheeting or reflex reflectors on the trailer, if fitted, still present and attached. Mark N/A on a straight truck.

Trailer lamps and conspicuity markings: OK, Defect, N/A

Broken, missing, or inoperative lighting

Any required lighting device or reflector damaged, missing, or dark. Include 7-way or wiring faults that killed trailer lamps.

Broken, missing, or inoperative lighting: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Tires

Report flats, leaks, cuts that expose ply, and tread below 49 CFR 393.75. Mark trailer tire rows N/A on a straight truck.

6 items
Tires

Flat, leak, cut, or separation

No tire may be operated that is flat, has an audible leak, has body ply or belt exposed, has tread or sidewall separation, or has a cut that exposes ply (49 CFR 393.75(a)).

Flat, leak, cut, or separation: OK, Defect, N/A

Steer-axle tread depth

At least 4/32 inch in a major tread groove on the front tires of a bus, truck, or truck tractor (49 CFR 393.75(b)). Do not measure on tie bars, humps, or fillets.

Steer-axle tread depth: OK, Defect, N/A

Other tire tread depth

At least 2/32 inch in a major tread groove on tires that are not the front steering-axle tires (49 CFR 393.75(c)).

Other tire tread depth: OK, Defect, N/A

Inflation for the load

Cold inflation must not be less than the pressure specified for the load (49 CFR 393.75(i)). If the tires are still hot from the run, do not treat a hot gauge reading as cold. 393.75 Table 1 is a heat-buildup estimate (5 psi or 15 psi by tire load rating at 41 to 55 mph), not a single Pass/Fail PSI for every tire.

Inflation for the load: OK, Defect, N/A

Duals, bulges, and mixing

Duals not mismatched in size or diameter. No bulge. Do not mix radial and bias-ply on the same axle if that is how the unit is set up.

Duals, bulges, and mixing: OK, Defect, N/A

Trailer tires

Same condition, tread, and inflation look on every trailer axle you ran. Mark N/A on a straight truck.

Trailer tires: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Wheels and rims

49 CFR 393.205: wheels and rims not cracked or broken, bolt holes not elongated, nuts or bolts not missing or loose. Mark trailer wheels N/A on a straight truck.

4 items
Wheels and rims

Rims cracked, broken, or bent

Wheels and rims shall not be cracked or broken (49 CFR 393.205(a)). Note axle position.

Rims cracked, broken, or bent: OK, Defect, N/A

Missing or loose lug nuts or bolts

Nuts or bolts shall not be missing or loose (49 CFR 393.205(c)). Rust trails or shiny threads can show a loose fastener.

Missing or loose lug nuts or bolts: OK, Defect, N/A

Elongated bolt holes

Stud or bolt holes shall not be elongated or out of round (49 CFR 393.205(b)).

Elongated bolt holes: OK, Defect, N/A

Trailer wheels and rims

Same rim, lug, and bolt-hole look on the trailer. Mark N/A on a straight truck.

Trailer wheels and rims: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Horn, windshield wipers, and rear-vision mirrors

These three parts are named separately in 49 CFR 396.11(a)(1). Mark N/A only if the vehicle is not required to have that device.

4 items
Horn, windshield wipers, and rear-vision mirrors

Horn

Electric and/or air horn works. Report a horn that failed during the run or is silent at shutdown (49 CFR 396.11(a)(1)(vi); 392.7).

Horn: OK, Defect, N/A

Windshield wipers

Wipers sweep. Arms and blades not torn off or seized. Report wipers that failed in weather or will not park.

Windshield wipers: OK, Defect, N/A

Washers (if needed to keep the windshield clear)

Washer system empty or inoperative if you needed it and it did not work. Mark N/A if not equipped or not needed this trip.

Washers (if needed to keep the windshield clear): OK, Defect, N/A

Rear-vision mirrors

Required rear-vision mirrors present, mounted, not cracked through, and still usable. Report a mirror that was broken, folded, or lost during the run.

Rear-vision mirrors: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Coupling devices

Default is a Class A tractor-semitrailer with a fifth wheel. Mark this entire station N/A on a straight truck. Trailer brake hoses are in the service-brakes station, not here.

5 items
Coupling devices

Fifth wheel lock and kingpin

Locking jaws or lever closed around the kingpin, no gap between apron and skid plate, release in the engaged position (49 CFR 393.70(b)). Mark N/A on a pintle combo or straight truck.

Fifth wheel lock and kingpin: OK, Defect, N/A

Fifth wheel mount and slider

Lower fifth wheel still secured to the frame. Sliding fifth-wheel pins fully engaged if the fifth wheel slides. Cracks, missing bolts, or a mount that shifted. Mark N/A if no fifth wheel.

Fifth wheel mount and slider: OK, Defect, N/A

Pintle, drawbar, and safety chains

Pintle or equivalent locked. Safety chains or cables attached to the towing-vehicle frame, not to the pintle hook itself (49 CFR 393.70(c)(d)). Mark N/A on a fifth-wheel tractor-semitrailer or straight truck.

Pintle, drawbar, and safety chains: OK, Defect, N/A

Landing gear

As parked: gear down and stable, or raised if you are still coupled and the carrier wants it up. Handle secured, no missing parts. Mark N/A on a straight truck.

Landing gear: OK, Defect, N/A

Coupling play or tracking on the road

Unusual fifth-wheel noise, gap that opened, pintle slack, or the trailer did not track. 49 CFR 393.70(a) limits path deviation to 3 inches on a straight, level, smooth paved surface. That is a design/installation limit, not a roadside tape measure you must take at every shutdown.

Coupling play or tracking on the road: OK, Defect, N/A

Inspection station

Emergency equipment

49 CFR 393.95 equipment on the power unit. Report anything missing, discharged, or used on the road and not replaced.

4 items
Emergency equipment

Fire extinguisher

Securely mounted, readily accessible, charged (visual indicator). UL rating at least 5 B:C, or two 4 B:C, on a power unit that is not placarded; at least 10 B:C if transporting placarded hazardous materials (49 CFR 393.95(a)).

Fire extinguisher: OK, Defect, N/A

Warning devices

Three bidirectional emergency reflective triangles (FMVSS 125), or at least 6 fusees where flame devices are allowed. Fusees or flame signals are prohibited on certain explosives, flammable gas/liquid cargo tanks, and compressed-gas-fueled CMVs (49 CFR 393.95(f)(g)).

Warning devices: OK, Defect, N/A

Spare fuses or circuit breakers

Spare electrical fuses if the vehicle uses fuses, or note that the vehicle uses circuit breakers.

Spare fuses or circuit breakers: OK, Defect, N/A

Emergency equipment used or missing

Triangles, extinguisher, or fuses used on the road and not replaced before you parked. List what is missing in Notes and in the defects box.

Emergency equipment used or missing: OK, Defect, N/A

Form details

Defects and sign-off

The driver must sign. If defects are listed, the motor carrier or its agent must certify repair or that repair is unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again. The next driver signs this same report before the next trip (49 CFR 396.13).

15 fields
Defects and sign-off

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References

  1. 49 CFR 396.11 Driver vehicle inspection report(s) - eCFR
  2. 49 CFR 396.13 Driver inspection - eCFR
  3. 49 CFR 392.7 Equipment, inspection and use - eCFR
  4. 49 CFR 393.95 Emergency equipment on all power units - eCFR
  5. 49 CFR 393.75 Tires (condition, tread, inflation) - eCFR
  6. 49 CFR 393.70 Coupling devices and towing methods - eCFR
  7. 49 CFR 393.205 Wheels - eCFR
  8. FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Planner 5.2.2 Vehicle Inspections (DVIR post-trip)
  9. FMCSA Motor Carrier Safety Planner 6.3.4 Equipment, Inspection, and Use (392.7)
  10. FMCSA interpretation: multi-day trip DVIR turn-in (396.11 Q1)
  11. FMCSA interpretation: inspect both power unit and trailer (396.11 Q2)
  12. FMCSA interpretation: no required DVIR form layout (396.11 Q4)
  13. FMCSA interpretation: one DVIR may cover a combination (396.11 Q5)
  14. FMCSA interpretation: what counts as repair certification (396.11 Q7)
  15. FMCSA interpretation: 396.11 is not a 396.15 post-trip inspection (396.11 Q25)
  16. FMCSA interpretation: certifier need not be a mechanic (396.11 Q26)
  17. FMCSA interpretation: two or more shifts in one day (396.11 Q24)
  18. FMCSA interpretation: one tractor-trailer combination exception (396.11 Q21)
  19. FMCSA interpretation: next driver may not operate without certification (396.13 Q1)
  20. FMCSA Passenger Carrier No-Defect DVIR final rule (85 FR 50787, effective Sept 17, 2020)
  21. Washington DOL Commercial Driver Guide, after-trip inspection and report

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against the vehicle manufacturer's service information, your shop's procedures or a qualified technician before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.

What this checklist is for

This is an End of Day Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR). Complete the form on screen and save to a CSV or PDF file. This report contain the station information required by regulation 396.11. It will include power unit and trailer information, ending mileage, the inspection results and defects. It includes the driver's signature, Carrier Certification of defects if they exist, and review by the next driver.

The governing rule is 49 CFR 396.11. FMCSA does not require a particular form layout (396.11 Q4). This template follows the parts named in 396.11(a)(1). It is not an FMCSA official blank.

What it is not

  • It is not a pre-trip walkaround. Reviewing yesterday's report before driving is 49 CFR 396.13, a different duty.
  • It is not the 396.15 post-trip inspection for intermodal equipment. FMCSA says 396.11 is not that inspection (396.11 Q25).
  • It is not a light-vehicle owner checklist or a state inspection sticker.
  • It is not hours-of-service (RODS). Ending miles here are vehicle identity, not a logbook.

How to fill each block

Vehicle, driver, and end of trip. Identify carrier, USDOT number, unit, trailer, ending miles, and whether the report covers tractor and trailer, bobtail, or a straight truck. 396.11 is one report per vehicle operated. If you ran another unit today, check the extra-vehicle box and prepare a separate report for that unit. FMCSA allows one report to cover a combination (396.11 Q5).

Review the list of specific stations above. Check each station to see if it was OK at shut down or if it was checked while running. Check the emergency equipment, coupling devices, rear-vision mirrors, wheel and rim condition, tire condition and pressure, lights and reflectors, steering, service brakes with trailer connections, parking brake, windshield wiper equipment and horn.

Tires and emergency equipment. Condition, tread, and inflation sit in 393.75. Extinguisher rating and warning devices sit in 393.95 (at least 5 B:C, or two 4 B:C, on a non-placarded power unit; at least 10 B:C if transporting placarded hazardous materials).

Defects and sign-off. The driver must sign. Team drivers: both may agree on listed defects; only one signature is required (396.11(a)(2)(ii)). If defects are listed, the motor carrier or its agent must certify that the defect was repaired or that repair is unnecessary before the vehicle is operated again. The certifier need not be a mechanic (396.11 Q26). The next driver reviews this same report under 396.13 and must not operate without that certification when defects were listed (396.13 Q1).

What varies

If a portion of the above doesn’t apply to your vehicle, check the N/A box for that row only. Example: If you are checking an air unit, check the hydraulic rows as N/A. If it’s a straight truck, check the coupling devices as N/A.

The 2020 final rule (85 FR 50787, effective September 17, 2020) include a no-defect exception for passenger carriers. If that exception applies to your operation, a no-defect day may not need this written report. There is no such exception for property carriers, they do write the report with or without defects.

FMCSA Q21 describes a limited exception for a one-tractor-trailer combination operated by a single motor carrier. If that sounds like you, read the question for details. Don’t just take our word for it. A couple special rules exists for multi-day trips and two-shifts-in-one-calendar-day operations. FMCSA has published the rules for those scenarios too. Follow the one that fits what was told to you in dispatch. Don’t guess!

If you want a copy that doesn't live on this page anymore, download the filled PDF version. All the answers remain in this browser. Next time someone visits, they’ll see the blank form. Submit the completed report using the carrier’s process. That might be an electronic system they use, a scan or paper. Just hand it over.

After you finish

The next driver still needs to see listed defects and any certification before next trip. Above the article is the form itself. Below that is the preview image and printable PDF.

This is not a substitute for a licensed inspection. This is not a substitute for the carrier’s maintenance file. This is not a substitute for the vehicle’s OEM procedure. The template is for record keeping purposes only. This is not legal advice.

396.11 does not replace 392.7 equipment use on the road.

Not a substitute for the OEM or a licensed inspection

This is a recordkeeping template, not legal advice and not a substitute for the vehicle's OEM procedure, the carrier's maintenance file, or a licensed inspection. 396.11 does not replace 392.7 equipment use on the road.