CHAPTER SIX COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES CHAPTER …

1 CHAPTER SIX. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES . CHAPTER CONTENT. inspection ITEMS FOR COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES .. EXCEPTIONS TO THE CMV inspection REQUIREMENTS .. COMMERCIAL vehicle inspection ITEMS .. CMV inspection PROCEDURES .. Backup Lamps .. Beam Indicator .. Brake System .. Clearance Lamps .. Coupling Devices .. Exhaust System .. Frames .. Fuel System .. Hazard Warning Lamps .. Head Lamps .. Horn .. Identification Lamps .. License Plate Lamp .. Mirrors .. Reflective Sheeting/Reflex Reflectors Conspicuity System .. Reflectors (Rear/Side) .. Safety Guards or Flaps .. Seat Belts .. Side Marker Lamps .. Steering Mechanism.

2 Stop Lamps .. Suspension .. Tail Lamps .. Tires .. Turn Signal Lamps .. vehicle Identification Number (VIN) .. Wheels and Rims .. Window Tinting or Coating .. Windshield .. Windshield Wipers .. EXAMPLES OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES .. CHAPTER SIX. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES . inspection OF COMMERCIAL . MOTOR VEHICLES - APPLICABILITY 2. The COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle (CMV). inspection Program also applies to any: 1. The term COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle means a a. school bus that will operate at a speed of 60 mph self- propelled or towed vehicle , other than a farm outside of an urban district as authorized by TRC.

3 vehicle with a gross weight, registered weight, or (b)(4)(A). gross weight rating under 48,000 pounds, that is used on a public highway to transport passengers or cargo b. vehicle or combination of VEHICLES with a if: gross weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds that is operated in interstate commerce and a. The vehicle , including a school activity bus as registered in this state. defined in Texas Transportation Code (TRC). Section , or combination of VEHICLES has a 3. A COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle that is registered in gross weight, registered weight, or gross weight this state shall be required to pass an annual rating of more than 26,000 pounds; or inspection of all safety equipment required by the Federal MOTOR Carrier Safety Regulations.

4 B. The vehicle , including a school activity bus as defined by TRC , is designed to transport 4. A COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle required to be more than 15 passengers, including the driver; or inspected under the Federal MOTOR Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) is also subject to the c. The vehicle is used to transport hazardous regular state inspection requirements set forth in materials in a quantity requiring placarding by a CHAPTER 4 of the vehicle inspection Operations &. regulation issued under the Hazardous Materials Training Procedures. The statutory fee may be Transportation Act (49 Section 5101 et charged for each COMMERCIAL inspection .)

5 A signed seq.). Additionally, if an automobile or motorcycle is vehicle inspection report will be issued for each transporting a hazardous material that requires passing CMV which will designate the vehicle has placarding; these types of VEHICLES would also be met both the FMCSR and state inspection required to have a COMMERCIAL vehicle inspection . requirements. EXCEPTIONS TO THE CMV. inspection REQUIREMENTS. 1. All school bus operations used to transport only children and/or school personnel from home to school and school to home (contract school buses are not exempt if used for any purpose other than transporting children to and from school).

6 2. Transportation performed by the Federal Government, State, or any political subdivision of a State, or an agency established under a compact between States that has been approved by the Congress of the United States. 3. The occasional transportation of personal Examples of Hazardous Material Placards property by individuals not for compensation or in the furtherance of a COMMERCIAL enterprise. 4. Transportation of human corpses or sick or A COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle not required to register injured persons. with the Texas Department of MOTOR VEHICLES under Texas Transportation Code, CHAPTER 643, may display 5.

7 The operation of fire trucks and rescue the standard proof of liability insurance form. VEHICLES while involved in emergency and related operations. B. Licensed dealers of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and 6. The operation of a COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) are required to designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 collect the per gallon tax when the fuel is sold or passengers (including the driver), not for direct delivered into a MOTOR vehicle 's fuel supply tank. compensation, provided the vehicle does not VEHICLES that operate using CNG, LNG, or LPG will otherwise meet the definition of a COMMERCIAL no longer prepay the CNG, LNG, or LPG tax by MOTOR vehicle .

8 Purchasing a decal from the Texas Comptroller's Office. Therefore, a valid liquefied gas tax decal is 7. The operation of a COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle no longer required to be present before an designed or used to transport between 9 and 15 inspection can be conducted on CNG, LNG, or LPG. passengers (including the driver) for direct fueled VEHICLES . compensation, provided the vehicle does not otherwise meet the definition of a COMMERCIAL C. Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel System vehicle . As a pre-requisite to issuing a passing vehicle 8. The following farm VEHICLES when displaying inspection report, the inspector must verify that a farm license plates, or when in possession of a State MOTOR vehicle equipped with a CNG Fuel System issued Covered Farm vehicle designation, not complies with the requirements of 49 CFR transporting hazardous materials requiring and that the expiration date of the fuel container tank placarding, and not operating as a for-hire MOTOR has not been exceeded.

9 The inspector can complete carrier: this inspection requirement through observation and/or documentation. a. Covered farm VEHICLES as defined in 49 CFR. {37 TAC (g)(7)}. The CNG Fuel System inspection should be made immediately after checking for proof of 9. Even if the vehicle is not required to have a financial responsibility with the owner or CMV inspection , the vehicle may have to comply operator of the vehicle present. with the state inspection requirements set forth in Chapters 4 and 5. Observation Check the label on the CNG fuel container COMMERCIAL vehicle . INSPECTIONITEMS The CNG fuel container will be located in various places on a CMV.

10 The CNG fuel container is A. Check for evidence of financial responsibility. often located in the same position where the A COMMERCIAL MOTOR vehicle defined in standard fuel tanks would be placed. Additionally, (1)(a), (b), and (c) is not required to the CNG fuel container may be located under the display the standard proof of liability insurance vehicle frame or behind the vehicle cab. On buses, form. The primary method for a COMMERCIAL MOTOR the CNG fuel container is often located under the vehicle to show proof of financial responsibility is passenger compartment or on the roof of the found in Annex #1 Item #8 via cab card or passenger compartment.