Annual DOT Inspections for Commercial Trucks and Trailers

Keep your commercial equipment compliant, safe, and ready for the road. Valder’s Vehicles in Hinckley, Minnesota offers separate annual DOT inspections for qualifying commercial trucks and trailers.

Each truck and trailer is inspected individually and receives separate inspection documentation and a decal upon passing.

Truck DOT Inspections Trailer DOT Inspections

Separate Inspections

Trucks and trailers are separate vehicles for inspection purposes. Each qualifying unit must be inspected individually.

Qualified Inspector

Inspections are completed by a qualified inspector using applicable federal and Minnesota commercial vehicle inspection standards.

Documentation Upon Passing

A passing unit receives the applicable inspection report and inspection decal.

Commercial Truck Service

Commercial Truck DOT Inspections

Valder’s Vehicles provides annual DOT inspections for qualifying commercial trucks, work vehicles, fleet vehicles, and other commercial power units.

Trucks We Inspect

  • Commercial pickup trucks
  • Work trucks
  • Service trucks
  • Fleet vehicles
  • Medium-duty trucks
  • Flatbed trucks
  • Dump trucks
  • Commercial vans
  • Tow vehicles
  • Other qualifying commercial power units

Does My Truck Require an Inspection?

A vehicle does not need to be a semi truck to fall under commercial motor vehicle inspection requirements.

Pickup trucks, work trucks, service vehicles, and other power units may qualify depending on factors such as:

  • Gross vehicle weight rating
  • Gross combination weight rating
  • Actual operating weight
  • Commercial use
  • Vehicle registration
  • Interstate or intrastate operation
  • Cargo and passenger use
  • Applicable exemptions

Brake System

The braking system is inspected for damage, wear, leaks, improper adjustment, missing components, and other unsafe conditions.

  • Service brakes
  • Brake pads and linings
  • Brake drums and rotors
  • Hydraulic or air-brake components
  • Brake hoses and tubing
  • Parking brake
  • Brake warning systems

Steering System

Steering components are examined for looseness, excessive movement, damage, wear, improper adjustment, or missing hardware.

  • Steering wheel and column
  • Steering gear
  • Pitman arm
  • Drag links
  • Tie rods
  • Steering knuckles
  • Power-steering components

Suspension

The suspension is checked for damaged, loose, shifted, missing, or excessively worn components.

  • Leaf springs
  • Coil springs
  • Air suspension
  • Spring hangers
  • Shackles
  • U-bolts
  • Axle-positioning components

Tires, Wheels and Hubs

Tires and wheel assemblies are inspected for unsafe wear, damage, looseness, or improper installation.

  • Tire tread and condition
  • Tire inflation
  • Sidewall damage
  • Wheels and rims
  • Lug nuts and wheel studs
  • Hubs and seals
  • Signs of bearing problems

Lighting and Electrical

Required lights, reflectors, wiring, and electrical safety equipment must function correctly.

  • Headlights
  • Brake lights
  • Turn signals
  • Clearance and marker lights
  • License-plate light
  • Reflectors
  • Wiring and connections

Windshield, Wipers and Mirrors

Components affecting visibility are checked for proper operation and safe condition.

  • Windshield condition
  • Driver visibility
  • Windshield wipers
  • Washer system
  • Required mirrors
  • Mirror mounting

Fuel and Exhaust Systems

Fuel and exhaust components are inspected for leaks, damage, loose mounting, and unsafe routing.

  • Fuel leaks
  • Fuel-tank mounting
  • Fuel lines
  • Exhaust leaks
  • Loose exhaust components
  • Improper exhaust routing

Frame and Safety Equipment

The vehicle structure and required emergency equipment are checked for safe condition.

  • Vehicle frame
  • Crossmembers
  • Body and hitch mounting
  • Structural cracks
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Warning triangles
  • Other required emergency equipment

What Happens After the Truck Inspection?

When the truck passes, the owner receives the applicable inspection report and inspection decal.

If safety-related defects are found, the truck will not receive passing documentation until the applicable items are corrected and rechecked.

Schedule a Truck DOT Inspection
Commercial Trailer Service

Commercial Trailer DOT Inspections

Valder’s Vehicles provides separate annual DOT inspections for qualifying commercial trailers.

Important: A trailer is considered its own vehicle for inspection purposes. A passing truck inspection does not cover the trailer, and a passing trailer inspection does not cover the truck.

Trailers We Inspect

  • Dump trailers
  • Equipment trailers
  • Enclosed cargo trailers
  • Utility trailers
  • Flatbed trailers
  • Deckover trailers
  • Gooseneck trailers
  • Fifth-wheel trailers
  • Car haulers
  • Tilt trailers
  • Landscape trailers
  • Other qualifying commercial trailers

Does My Trailer Require an Inspection?

Trailer inspection requirements may depend on:

  • Gross vehicle weight rating
  • Gross combination weight rating
  • Actual operating weight
  • Commercial use
  • Trailer registration
  • Type of cargo transported
  • Interstate or intrastate operation
  • Applicable exemptions

Trailer Brake System

Trailer brakes are inspected for proper operation, adjustment, wear, damage, and unsafe defects.

  • Electric trailer brakes
  • Hydraulic surge brakes
  • Air-brake components
  • Brake shoes and linings
  • Brake drums and rotors
  • Brake wiring and hoses
  • Brake adjustment

Breakaway System

The emergency breakaway system is checked for proper condition and operation.

  • Breakaway switch
  • Breakaway cable
  • Breakaway battery
  • Battery charging circuit
  • Emergency brake operation

Coupler and Hitch Components

Trailer connection components are inspected for damage, wear, improper attachment, or missing hardware.

  • Ball couplers
  • Gooseneck couplers
  • Fifth-wheel connections
  • Pintle hooks and lunette rings
  • Coupler locking mechanisms
  • Safety chains and cables
  • Mounting hardware

Axles and Suspension

Axle and suspension components are inspected for wear, damage, looseness, shifting, or missing hardware.

  • Trailer axles
  • Leaf springs
  • Torsion axles
  • Equalizers
  • Spring hangers and shackles
  • U-bolts
  • Suspension mounting points

Tires, Wheels, Bearings and Hubs

Tire and wheel assemblies are inspected for unsafe wear, damage, looseness, or signs of failure.

  • Tire tread and condition
  • Tire inflation
  • Sidewall damage
  • Wheels and rims
  • Lug nuts and wheel studs
  • Wheel bearings
  • Hubs and grease seals

Trailer Lighting and Wiring

Required lighting, reflectors, wiring, and connections must function correctly.

  • Taillights
  • Brake lights
  • Turn signals
  • Clearance and marker lights
  • License-plate light
  • Reflectors
  • Trailer plug and junction box

Frame and Structural Components

The trailer structure is inspected for defects that could affect safe operation.

  • Main frame rails
  • Crossmembers
  • Tongue or A-frame
  • Gooseneck structure
  • Coupler mounting area
  • Welds and attachment points
  • Structural cracks or damage

Body and Securement Components

Applicable body, door, ramp, and cargo-securement components are checked for safe operation.

  • Doors and ramp doors
  • Tailgates
  • Latches and hinges
  • Tie-down points
  • Stake pockets and rub rails
  • Cargo-securement components
  • Rear-impact guard, when required

Hydraulic Systems

Dump trailers and other hydraulically operated trailers may also be checked for leaks, damage, and unsafe mounting.

  • Hydraulic hoses and fittings
  • Hydraulic cylinder
  • Pump mounting
  • Battery mounting
  • Electrical connections
  • Hoist attachment points
  • Safety supports

What Happens After the Trailer Inspection?

When the trailer passes, the owner receives separate trailer inspection documentation and the applicable inspection decal.

If defects are identified, the trailer must be repaired and the affected components rechecked before passing documentation can be issued.

Schedule a Trailer DOT Inspection

Compliance Notice: This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Commercial vehicle inspection requirements may vary based on vehicle weight, registration, commercial activity, cargo, route, interstate or intrastate use, and applicable exemptions. Vehicle owners and motor carriers remain responsible for determining and maintaining compliance with all regulations that apply to their operations.