What is Part 396?
The maintenance-control rulebook for CMV inspection, repair, maintenance, and proof.
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Part 396 is the maintenance-control rulebook for commercial motor vehicles. It requires carriers to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain equipment, manage DVIRs, correct defects, respond to roadside inspection reports, and complete required periodic inspections.
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The maintenance-control rulebook for CMV inspection, repair, maintenance, and proof.
Applies to carriers, drivers, maintenance staff, brake inspectors, and intermodal providers.
Carriers need a repeatable maintenance system, not scattered invoices and memory.
Equipment likely to cause an accident or breakdown should not be dispatched.
Roadside violations must be corrected, certified, returned, and retained properly.
DVIRs must identify safety defects and trigger real repair follow-up.
Drivers must review prior defects and confirm the vehicle is safe before operation.
Commercial vehicles generally need periodic inspection at least every 12 months.
Periodic inspectors and brake inspectors must be qualified, and proof should be kept.
A practical checklist for maintenance files, DVIRs, annual inspections, and repair proof.
Maintenance must be proven with records, not just paid invoices or memory.
DispatchHQ helps small carriers organize DVIR workflows, roadside inspection follow-up, maintenance records, annual inspection tracking, repair documentation, and dispatch decisions so unsafe equipment does not turn into a violation, claim, or shutdown.
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