DOT inspection checklist: Level 1, 2 and 3
Every item an inspector checks at a CVSA Level I, II or III roadside inspection, as a checklist the driver can tick off before the truck leaves the yard. Pick the level, check what is in order, print it or send the link to the driver.
Level I: North American Standard Inspection
The full inspection: driver, credentials and every vehicle system, including underneath the truck.
Driver and credentials
CVSA Level I driver items, plus the ELD packet FMCSA requires in the cab.
Paperwork usually asked for
Not part of the CVSA item list, but inspectors routinely ask for these while checking carrier status and the load.
Vehicle
CVSA Level I vehicle items. Items tagged "underneath" are the ones that need the inspector on a creeper or in a pit.
Checked items live in this page’s address, so the share link reopens the list exactly as you left it. Nothing is stored on a server and no login is needed.
The three levels at a glance
- Level I, North American Standard Inspection: The full inspection: driver, credentials and every vehicle system, including underneath the truck.
- Level II, Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection: The same driver and vehicle items as Level I, but only what can be checked without getting under the vehicle.
- Level III, Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection: Driver and paperwork only: license, medical, logs, hours, seat belt, inspection reports and carrier status.
CVSA also defines Level IV (a one-off check of a single item, usually for a study), Level V (the Level I vehicle items with no driver present), Level VI (radioactive shipments), Level VII (jurisdiction-mandated programs such as school buses) and Level VIII (an electronic inspection while the vehicle is moving). For a dry van, reefer or flatbed carrier, Levels I to III are the ones that happen at the scale.
How to use the checklist
- Pre-trip: open Level I and walk the truck with the list, lights on, tire gauge in hand. The 15 vehicle items are the systems the inspector will look at; the “underneath” tag marks the ones that need a creeper, which is where most Level I brake and suspension violations come from.
- Before dispatch: open Level III and confirm the driver can produce every document without searching. Expired medical cards and licenses are the driver-side violations that end the trip at the scale.
- Share: the share link carries the level and the checked items in the address, so a dispatcher can send a half-finished list to the driver, or the driver can send a finished one back as proof the pre-trip was done.
- Print: the printed version keeps a blank unit, trailer, driver and date line, for drivers who want paper in the door pocket.
What each level means, what an out-of-service order costs you, and how every inspection feeds your CSA scores is in the DOT inspection guide. For the dates behind the driver items, the ELD mandate guide covers the logging side and the new authority checklist covers the credentials a new carrier needs before its first inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What does a DOT Level 1 inspection check?
A Level I (North American Standard) inspection covers the driver and the whole vehicle. Driver items: license, Medical Examiner's Certificate and SPE certificate if applicable, alcohol and drugs, record of duty status, hours of service and seat belt. Vehicle items: brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline, exhaust, frames, fuel systems, lighting, steering, suspension, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs, windshield wipers, plus hazmat and cargo tank requirements where they apply. The inspector gets under the vehicle for the brakes, frame, suspension and driveline.
How long does a Level 1 DOT inspection take?
CVSA does not publish a time, and it depends on the unit and the inspector. Level I is the longest of the three because the inspector measures brakes and checks the frame, suspension and driveline from underneath; plan on the better part of an hour. A Level II walk-around is shorter, and a Level III driver-only check usually takes minutes if the documents and logs are in order.
What is the difference between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3?
Level I is the full driver and vehicle inspection, including underneath. Level II is the walk-around: the same driver and vehicle items, but only what can be checked without getting under the vehicle. Level III is driver and credentials only: license, medical certificate, record of duty status, hours of service, seat belt, vehicle inspection reports and carrier identification and status, with no mechanical items.
What puts a truck or driver out of service?
CVSA publishes the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, the list of defects and driver conditions serious enough to stop the vehicle or driver on the spot. Typical vehicle examples are brake defects (CVSA's brake rule works on the share of defective brakes, with 20% as the threshold), tires worn to the cords or flat, steering or coupling defects, and missing or inoperative lights. Driver examples are hours-of-service violations, no valid license or medical certificate, and alcohol or drug use. An out-of-service vehicle cannot move until it is repaired; an out-of-service driver cannot drive until the condition is cleared.
What is a CVSA decal and how long is it valid?
A vehicle that passes a Level I, Level V or Level VI inspection with no violations on the critical vehicle inspection items gets a CVSA decal. The decal is valid for the month it was issued plus two months, and it tells inspectors in other member jurisdictions that the vehicle was recently inspected, so they can skip a repeat inspection. Driver violations do not affect the decal; a critical vehicle violation found later means the decal is removed.
What documents does a driver need for a DOT inspection?
The CVSA list: driver's license, Medical Examiner's Certificate (and SPE certificate if one was issued), record of duty status for today and the previous 7 days, and vehicle inspection reports. FMCSA also requires an ELD information packet in the cab: the user's manual, the instruction sheet for transferring records to an officer, the malfunction instruction sheet and at least 8 days of blank paper logs. Inspectors routinely ask for the registration and cab card, proof of insurance, IFTA credentials and the load paperwork as well.
Can I print this checklist or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Pick the level, then use Print / Save PDF. The print view shows only the checklist with a unit, trailer, driver and date line, and the browser's print dialog can save it as a PDF. The share link keeps the level and the checked items in the page address, so a driver can open it on a phone without an account.
Sources
The item lists follow the CVSA inspection level descriptions; the hints under each item are practical reminders, not official wording. Checked November 7, 2026.
- CVSA: All Inspection Levels — the Level I to VIII definitions and the driver and vehicle item lists.
- CVSA: North American Standard Inspection decal brochure — which levels earn a decal, the month-plus-two-months validity, and what removes it.
- FMCSA: ELD documentation the driver must carry — user’s manual, transfer and malfunction instruction sheets, 8 days of blank logs.
freightline keeps the expiry dates that fail a Level III
Medical cards, CDLs, annual inspections, registrations and insurance sit on each driver and truck, with a weekly email of what is coming due and hours of service from the connected ELD. Try it on your own trucks free for 30 days, no credit card.
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