Service

DOT Inspections

Certified DOT inspections to keep your commercial vehicles compliant and road-ready.

Federal regulations require every commercial motor vehicle to pass a periodic inspection at least once every twelve months. We perform annual DOT inspections at All Motors Center and, importantly, can carry out whatever repairs the inspection turns up during the same visit — which is the difference between one day of downtime and two.

What gets inspected

The annual inspection follows the criteria in the federal regulations, and covers the vehicle systematically:

Brake system. Lining and pad condition and thickness, drums and rotors, hoses and tubing, the low-pressure warning device, the tractor protection valve, air loss rate, and pushrod stroke measured against the applicable limits. Brakes account for a large share of out-of-service violations.

Steering. Steering wheel free play, column, gear box, linkage, ball and socket joints, tie rods, kingpins, and power steering components.

Suspension. Springs and spring assemblies, U-bolts and axle positioning parts, torque and radius rods, air suspension components and the height control valve.

Frame. Frame members, tire and wheel clearance, and adjustable axle assemblies.

Tires and wheels. Tread depth against the applicable minimums, which differ between steering axle and other axles, along with condition, inflation, and wheel, rim, stud and clamp condition.

Lighting and electrical. All required lamps and reflectors, plus wiring condition.

Fuel and exhaust systems. Secure mounting, leaks, and no discharge beneath the cab.

Coupling devices. Fifth wheel, pintle hooks, safety devices and saddle mounts.

Windshield, wipers and mirrors, plus emergency equipment.

Prepare before you arrive

A short walkaround the day before catches most of the easy failures and is worth the ten minutes. Check that every lamp works, including markers and the licence plate lamp. Look for air leaks by listening with the system charged and the engine off. Check tread depth on the steer tires, which have a higher minimum than the others. Look for fluid leaks and for anything hanging or loose underneath. Confirm the fire extinguisher is charged and in date and that the warning triangles are present.

Emissions equipment

We will state this plainly because it comes up: a vehicle with deleted or defeated DPF, EGR or DEF equipment will not pass. Beyond the inspection itself, it is a federal violation and it substantially reduces what the truck is worth. If your equipment has emissions faults, we would rather repair them properly and get you legitimately through the inspection.

Fleets

If you run several vehicles, we can schedule inspections so they do not all fall due at once and leave you short of equipment in the same week. We keep records of what was inspected and what was corrected.

Call (509) 655-7715 to book a DOT inspection.

What You Get

  • Annual federal periodic inspection
  • Repairs completed in the same visit
  • Air brake measurement and adjustment
  • Steering, suspension and frame inspection
  • Lighting, coupling and emergency equipment
  • Emissions system repair rather than deletion
  • Fleet scheduling so inspections do not all fall together
  • Records kept of inspections and corrections

How It Works

  1. 1Book the vehicle in and confirm what it is used for
  2. 2Carry out the full periodic inspection against federal criteria
  3. 3Measure brakes, pushrod stroke and tread depth against limits
  4. 4Report anything that would fail, with an estimate
  5. 5Complete the approved repairs during the same visit
  6. 6Re-inspect the corrected items and issue documentation

Frequently Asked

How often does a commercial vehicle need a DOT inspection?

Federal regulations require a periodic inspection at least once every twelve months for every commercial motor vehicle.

Can you fix problems found during the inspection?

Yes, in the same visit. That is the main reason to have the inspection done at a full-service shop — an inspection that produces a list you have to take elsewhere costs you two days of downtime instead of one.

What fails DOT inspections most often?

Brake defects are consistently near the top, particularly pushrod stroke out of adjustment and worn linings. Lighting faults and tires below the applicable minimum tread are also very common, and all three are easy to catch beforehand.

Will a deleted DPF pass a DOT inspection?

No. It is also a federal violation and it significantly reduces the truck's resale value. We repair emissions systems rather than delete them so you can pass legitimately.

How should I prepare for an inspection?

Do a walkaround the day before. Check every lamp including markers and the plate lamp, listen for air leaks with the system charged, check steer tire tread depth against its higher minimum, look for leaks or anything loose underneath, and confirm the fire extinguisher is charged and in date and the triangles are present.

Can you schedule inspections for a whole fleet?

Yes, and we will stagger them so they do not all come due in the same week and leave you short of equipment. We keep records of what was inspected and corrected.

Other heavy-duty and fleet work we do

We cover the greater Spokane area and North Idaho — see the areas we serve.