DOT / Federal Inspection

What Is a DOT/Federal Inspection?

To increase safety on the road, the United States Department of Transportation (the DOT) requires inspections on commercial motor vehicles, or CMVs, to ensure all their parts and accessories are working properly and efficiently. If you are in Riverside, IA, Ainsworth, IA, Washington County, IA, Kalona, IA, Washington, IA, or the surrounding areas, we at Washington Auto Center in Washington County can perform DOT inspections on your vehicle. In addition to commercial motor vehicles, we also repair vehicles from Jeep, Ford, Dodge, Honda, and more.  

There are six levels of DOT inspections to assess the vehicle's drivability. These inspections can only be performed by a state police officer or a certified DOT inspector (which our Expert technicians at Washington Auto Center in Washington are). The inspection levels are as follows:

Level One: North American Standard Inspection

This is the most common level of DOT inspections as well as the most thorough. The DOT official will inspect the driver's documents (license, logs, medical certificates, Hazmat endorsements, HOS documentation, inspection reports, etc.) and make sure the driver is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The official will also do a complete inspection of the vehicle, including its seat belts, tires, suspension, windshield wipers, brakes, turn signals, steering wheel, headlamps, and fuel systems. This level of inspection usually takes 45-60 minutes to complete. 

Level Two: Walk-Around Driver and Vehicle Inspection

This level of inspection is very similar to that of Level One, except the DOT official only inspects parts that can be examined without physically getting under the vehicle. 

Level Three: Driver-Only Inspection

In this level, the DOT inspector will only inspect the driver's information and certifications, not the vehicle. They will review their skill performance evaluation certificate, driver's license, HOS documentation, medical card, endorsements, RODS, and HAZMAT requirements. They will also check the driver's seat belt usage and their use of alcohol and drugs. 

Level Four: Special Inspection

This level of the inspection involves a one-time check of a specific item. The length of time a Level Four inspection takes depends on the part of the vehicle that needs to be inspected.

Level Five: Vehicle-Only Inspection

A Level Five inspection consists of only the vehicle inspection portion of a Level One inspection and must be conducted without the driver present. In this inspection, the DOT-certified inspector will check the vehicle's brakes, fuel, cargo, exhaust, steering, lighting, suspensions, tires, steering wheel, trailer, windshield wipers, emergency exits, engine, and battery. 

Level Six: Enhanced NAS Inspection for Radioactive Shipments

This DOT inspection is only for vehicles that are hauling radioactive cargo. A Level Six inspection is the enhanced version of a Level One inspection; the radiological shipments are checked to make sure the cargo and the driver are defect-free before they can leave for delivery. Each decal for a Level Six inspection is valid for only one trip. This is the longest inspection out of the six and takes around an hour to complete. 

Your Reliable Shop for DOT / Federal Inspections

We at Washington Auto Center in Washington are experts in all things auto repair. We've been fixing cars since 2018, and our owner Jim Zieglowsky and technicians have decades of combined experience. We can perform Auto Maintenance, Auto Repair, and more on your vehicle. 

Reasons To Do Business With Us:

Honesty, Integrity, Trust, Fairness, Professionalism

To schedule an appointment with Washington Auto Center in Washington, give us a call at 319-591-2886 or schedule an appointment online. Washington Auto Center - Your Automotive Maintenance Partner!