Late-Night Trucker Checklists

Total time: ~45 minutes from stop to "tow on the way." Following this in order can save you a citation, a tow upcharge, or your life.

1. Get fully off the road. Far right onto and past the rumble strip. Never stop on a curve.
2. Hazards on immediately — even on a dead engine, four-ways run for hours.
3. Deploy reflective triangles at 10, 100, and 200 ft behind. Add one ahead on divided highway. (49 CFR §392.22)
4. Put on Class 2 or 3 hi-vis vest before stepping outside. Exit passenger side when possible.
5. Photograph everything: mile marker, exit, GPS coordinates, truck angle, weather, lights.
6. Walk-around diagnosis. Look for blown tire, leak, smoke, fuel. Never crawl under on a shoulder.
7. Call carrier-arranged roadside first (Penske, Ryder, FleetNet, ABF). Faster ETA, billed to company.
8. No provider? Call USA Truck Network 1-800-237-9568. Heavy tow runs $400–$1,200/hr — verify before authorizing.
9. Notify dispatch in writing. Text + email + load board comment. Voice messages get missed.
10. Stay in cab if visibility is bad. Lock doors. Move to passenger seat — fewer impacts from the right.
11. Annotate ELD: On-Duty Not Driving with note "Mechanical breakdown, awaiting roadside." Protects HOS recap.
12. Photograph every receipt the moment it's handed to you. Fuel and tow paper fades in 30 days.

Most fatal mistakes happen in the first 60 seconds. Stay polite, stay short, stay documented.

1. Pull in calmly, set brake, hazards off, leave engine running unless told otherwise.
2. Window down, hands on wheel. First impression sets the tone.
3. Greet by rank or "Officer." Ask which level of inspection (I, II, III, V, VI, VIII).
4. Hand over CDL + medical card. Both must be valid and unexpired.
5. Cab card, IRP, IFTA decals, insurance proof. USDOT number must be visible on door.
6. ELD: 8-day log on demand. Know how to transfer via web service or USB. Print backup if available.
7. Hazmat? BOL must be reachable from driver's seat. Placards visible all four sides.
8. Do not volunteer extra info. Brief, truthful answers. Never narrate your trip or admit fatigue.
9. Accompany the walk-around if allowed. Note everything they point at.
10. Photograph every cited defect immediately. Tire depth, brake lining, lights — your phone is your evidence.
11. Get inspection report number (MCS-63 or state form). Required for DataQ challenge.
12. Record inspector name, badge, agency. Write it down before you pull off the lot.
13. Sign without admitting fault. Signature is receipt only. Add "driver disagrees" if applicable.
14. Send PDF + photo to dispatch immediately. Carriers must enter into safety system.
15. If Out-of-Service: truck stays. Call shop. Driving an OOS vehicle is a federal violation.

In the first half hour you make decisions that decide the next two years of litigation. Move slowly. Document obsessively.

1. Call 911 first. Even minor — a police report protects you. Request EMS if anyone says they hurt anywhere.
2. Activate hazards, deploy triangles, protect the scene from secondary collisions.
3. Do NOT admit fault. Do NOT apologize. "I'm glad you're okay" — never "I'm sorry."
4. 360° photos of every vehicle — far, mid, close. Skid marks, debris, weather, traffic signals.
5. Exchange info: license, insurance, plate, employer. Take photos of their docs — don't transcribe.
6. Get witness names and phone numbers before they leave. They will not stick around.
7. Call carrier and insurance 24/7 line from the scene. Most policies require notification within hours.
8. Get the police report number before officers leave. You'll need it for everything afterward.
9. Post-accident drug/alcohol test required if: fatality, citation issued + injury, or citation + tow (49 CFR §382.303). Within 8 hours alcohol, 32 hours drug.
10. Write a private timeline for yourself the same night while memory is sharp. Do not post anything on social media.

Black ice, whiteout, lightning, fog under 100 ft. The HOS rules give you breathing room — use them legally.

1. Drop speed early at first sign of changing conditions. Don't wait to brake.
2. Find a safe haven: truck stop, weigh station, rest area. Avoid shoulder unless no choice.
3. If shoulder is the only option, get fully past the rumble strip, hazards on, triangles out per §392.22.
4. Annotate ELD with weather code. "Adverse driving conditions — ice/whiteout/fog." Photograph dash and outside.
5. FMCSA §395.1(b)(1): Adverse Conditions = +2 hours of drive time AND +2 hours on the 14-hour window — only if conditions were not known when you started.
6. Check state DOT 511 line for closures and chain laws. Some states (CO, WA, OR, CA, MT, UT) require chains under specific conditions.
7. Notify dispatch + shipper in writing. Weather delay should not be charged as service failure.
8. Do not move until conditions clear. Wait until sunrise if needed. A late load is a recoverable problem; a rollover is not.

If you find it, you own it. The driver's signature on the DVIR is what protects — or hangs — you.

1. Stop the pre-trip. Don't continue checking — the truck is not leaving until this is resolved.
2. Document on DVIR: exact part, observation, time, mileage. Vague descriptions get rejected by maintenance.
3. Photograph the defect. Tape measure or coin for scale. Save originals — don't crop or filter.
4. Notify dispatch in writing. Text + email. Voice instructions to "just go" are not a defense.
5. Safety-critical defects (brakes, steering, tires, lights, coupling, frame): truck stays. Call shop, not 911. Refuse to drive in writing. 49 CFR §392.7 protects you against retaliation.

If you're reading this in the cab right now and you can't remember the last 5 miles, stop reading and stop driving.

1. Recognize the warning signs: drifting, missed exits, heavy eyelids, head nodding, micro-sleeps, can't recall last several miles.
2. Stop. Now. Nearest exit, rest area, weigh station, well-lit truck stop. Even an on-ramp is better than continuing.
3. Switch to Sleeper Berth on the ELD. A short legal break beats a fatigue-related crash.
4. Sleep — not "rest your eyes." 20-minute power nap minimum, 90 minutes ideal for full sleep cycle.
5. Hydrate, eat protein, walk 5 minutes after waking. Caffeine is a bridge, not a fix.
6. Notify dispatch in writing if HOS impacts ETA. Document fatigue stop — protects you in any later inquiry.
7. If you're in crisis, not just tired: call or text 988 or SAMHSA 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24/7.