Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024
(a)
Maintenance interval certification. Each operator shall certify in writing to
the department as to the time or mileage intervals when company examinations
and preventative maintenance will be performed.
(1) Such certification shall be submitted in
writing to the appropriate Regional Bus Inspection Program supervisor and shall
list the maximum maintenance cycle established for each particular vehicle type
that the operator owns or leases. The maximum maintenance cycle may be
expressed in terms of vehicle miles, engine hours or days between maintenance
intervals. The carrier shall not exceed the established maximum maintenance
interval(s).
(2) The maximum
established maintenance interval(s) shall be determined based on sound
preventive maintenance principles that consider current operating conditions,
previous maintenance experiences, including component failure history and the
final vehicle manufacturer's recommended service intervals. Maintenance
intervals shall not exceed the mileage, engine hours or time period limit(s)
recommended by the final vehicle manufacturer.
(3) In the event an operator decides to
modify the maintenance interval, an updated certification shall be filed with
the regional bus inspection supervisor prior to the implementation of the
revised cycle.
(b)
Driver pre-trip inspection and post-trip review reports. The operator of more
than one vehicle shall require each on duty driver to complete and sign a
driver vehicle inspection report at the beginning and end of the day's work or
tour of duty, as well as any time the vehicle undergoes mechanical service
during the day without passengers on board.
(1) The pre-trip inspection at least shall
examine the following items: service brakes, parking brake, steering mechanism,
lighting devices and reflectors, horn, windshield wipers, mirrors, tires,
wheels and rims, and emergency equipment and exits. The post-trip review shall
note any additional mechanical or safety defects not listed on the pre-trip
inspection report that the driver becomes aware prior to the end of the tour of
duty.
(2) Such driver reports shall
list the vehicle identification number, starting and ending mileage, date,
driver's signature, and any identified vehicle defects or roadside vehicle
failures. If no defects or failures are noted, the report shall indicate this
fact. Each day's driver pre-trip inspection and post-trip review reports may be
contained on a single form, if desired by the operator, or combined with a
carriers mechanical defect form, as long as it is clear what defects were
discovered by the driver and when.
(3) Such driver reports shall be carefully
examined by the operator. The operator shall ensure that any safety defects
noted therein shall be corrected before the vehicle is used in service,
including all defects that do not meet the out-of-service requirements
contained in section
720.11
of this Title.
(4) The operator or
designated mechanic shall certify by signing a form that notes all defects
listed in the driver reports have been repaired that could affect the safe
operation of the vehicle, prior to the vehicle again carrying
passengers.
(5) The operator shall
adopt and implement a procedure(s) to ensure that its drivers have reviewed a
legible copy of the previous driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) and such
drivers are made aware in writing, prior to dispatch, that potential safety
defect(s) noted on the previous DVIR have been properly addressed by the
operator and the vehicle is safe for dispatch. Authorized department
representatives shall only approve operator's procedure(s) that satisfactorily
meet this objective.
(6) Such
driver reports shall be filed by vehicle number and in chronological order
within each vehicle folder. The operator shall maintain these reports for at
least the most recent six months.
(7) Such driver reports shall be available
for examination by a motor vehicle inspector or other authorized representative
of the department at any time.
(c) En route driver relief. When a driver is
relieved while en route and passengers remain onboard the vehicle, the new
driver shall be provided with information of any potential safety defect(s)
identified by the driver being relieved. Whenever possible, this information
shall be passed on to the new driver via direct communication with the driver
being relieved.
(d) Operator
maintenance examination. An itemized record of each periodic maintenance
examination, showing the date, vehicle number, mileage, lubrication record,
adjustments and repairs, having been signed by the operator or the designated
mechanic, shall be retained by the operator for at least two years. In
addition, an itemized record of any repair(s) or adjustment(s) performed on the
vehicle other than those performed at the time of the periodic maintenance
examination, shall be maintained by the operator for at least two years. These
records shall be kept within an appropriate vehicle folder and shall be
available for examination by a motor vehicle inspector or other authorized
representative of the department at any time. NYSDOT vehicle inspection reports
(Form MC300) issued to the operator by the department shall become part of this
vehicle maintenance file and shall be retained by the operator for at least two
years.
(e) Scheduled NYS DOT safety
inspection. The operator of a motor vehicle scheduled for department inspection
shall present its vehicle maintenance and driver file/records at the time of
inspection. Such records and reports shall be for the time period from the last
departmental inspection of that vehicle to and including the current
date.
(f) Driver 19-A and B
affidavit of compliance. The operator shall provide a copy of its annual NYS
Department of Motor Vehicles, article 19-A and/or article 19-B of Vehicle and
Traffic Law affidavit of compliance(s) to department inspectors or other
authorized representatives upon request to facilitate an accident
investigation, compliance review or regulatory proceeding.
