Post-trip inspection: is it required by DOT, and what should it cover?

By Roadmela · Published and updated 2026-11-01

The text of 49 CFR 396.11 requires a written report at the end of each day's work if a defect was found or reported that day. It sets no post-trip inspection procedure. FMCSA's Question 25 answers "No" when asked whether 396.11 requires a post-trip inspection "of the kind described in § 396.15", which is the driveaway-towaway section. It adds that the report must include all defects in the listed parts discovered by or reported to the driver during that day.

Your carrier can still ask for an end-of-day walk around. This guide covers the federal rule for commercial motor vehicles. We have not reviewed individual states.

Pre-trip and post-trip side by side

	Before driving	End of the day's work
Rule	392.7(a), 396.13	396.11(a)
What it asks	Be satisfied the listed parts are in good working order and the vehicle is safe to operate	Prepare a written report on each vehicle operated if a defect was discovered or reported
Parts covered	The same 11	The same 11
If nothing is wrong	Nothing to write under these rules	No report required
Signature	Sign the last report, if one was required, to acknowledge review and repair certification	Driver signs the report
Records	No separate record named	Report and certifications kept three months

The two lists match: brakes including trailer connections, parking brake, steering, lights and reflectors, tires, horn, wipers, mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment. FMCSA's 2014 final rule says it harmonized the pre- and post-trip lists.

What an end-of-day check should cover

Use the same checklist as the morning, and add what only the day can tell you. These prompts are our suggestions:

Anything that changed during the day: brake feel, steering pull, a new warning light, a new noise.
Damage from the day's work, such as a scraped panel or a loose latch.

Our forms have a Pre / Post-trip field, and the online version lets you choose Post-trip as the check type. Here is a post-trip example with a brake defect, using made-up details.

Red status card reading Do not drive, with one service brake defect listed. — The driver rated the soft brake pedal as unsafe, so the status reads Do not drive.

What happens after the report

The carrier repairs defects likely to affect safety and certifies every listed defect, the next driver reviews and signs, and the records are kept for three months. The DVIR requirements guide goes through each step.

Repair certification section with Defects corrected selected, a mechanic name, repair date and notes, and a sign button. — The repair certification appears when a report has a defect, for the mechanic or manager to complete on the device that holds the report. These details are made up.

Three specific situations

FMCSA's site shows a 1997 effective date on the guidance answers on this page, including Question 25 above. That date may not show later edits: Question 1 separates property and passenger carriers, which reflects the 2014 change, but not the 2020 one.

Trips longer than a day. Question 1 says the driver submits reports on return to the home terminal. The carrier is still responsible for repairs and certification.
Truck and trailer. Question 5 says one report may cover a combination, if defects are identified for each vehicle and the driver signs.
Passenger-carrying CMVs. Question 1 still says a passenger-carrying driver must prepare a report even with no defects. That sentence did not match what we read elsewhere: FMCSA's 2020 final rule rescinded no-defect reports for passenger carriers, the 2026 rule refers back to that change, and the current text of 396.11 draws no such distinction. If this affects you, confirm with FMCSA on 800-832-5660.

Keep reading

Sources

Read 1 November 2026; eCFR text current to 29 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Corrections: 1119224220zl@gmail.com.