Companies that rely on vehicles to provide their goods or services to the public will typically maintain a fleet of vehicles for commercial use. These vehicles share the road with numerous other vehicles. It's important that all vehicles in a commercial fleet are functional and safe at all times.

One way that the Department of Transportation (DOT) in each state ensures this safety is with routine inspections.

There are many different kinds of inspections that your fleet could be subjected to. Here are three specific types of DOT inspections that you should be prepared for in the future.

1. Standard Inspection 

A standard inspection is the most common type performed by DOT officials. These inspections are designed to provide an in-depth overview of commercial vehicles, and the employees who drive them.

DOT officials are looking for any damaged or worn parts that may compromise the safety of a fleet vehicle during a standard inspection. These parts can include lights, tires, and the braking system on each fleet vehicle.

A standard inspection will also include an in-depth look at any drivers operating fleet vehicles. An official will check to see that the drivers have the right license to operate the commercial vehicle and identify any regulatory infractions committed by each driver.

2. Special Inspections

Some DOT officials conduct special inspections. These inspections focus on a single item.

The most common reason why special inspections are completed is to evaluate regulatory compliance trends over time. If a particular problem has been cited among fleet vehicles in the past, special inspections can help to determine if these infractions are still problematic.

Special inspections can also be used for research purposes. The DOT may be studying the environmental effects of a specific function or component, and special inspections allow for the collection of valuable data.

3. Vehicle-Only Inspections

Vehicles must be able to pass a vehicle-only inspection to legally operate on public roadways. These types of inspections focus solely on examining the safety elements of a vehicle. Lights, braking systems, battery quality, and emission levels are commonly checked during a vehicle-only inspection. 

Most states require that at least one vehicle-only inspection be completed for each fleet vehicle on an annual basis.

You can work with your DOT official to schedule a mobile inspection that will allow you to certify multiple fleet vehicles at once. Mobile inspections can save your business both time and money.

For more information, contact a company like Arizona Fleet Service.