Inspector's Corner: There's Always Room for Self-Improvement

By Tomasz Krolak, Minnesota State Patrol; North American Inspectors Championship Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion

Regardless of rank, title or position within our organizations, we all can stand to benefit from periodic self-reflection. An honest evaluation of our performance following an inspection or upon the completion of our shift is a challenging and time-consuming process; however, it is necessary, and it allows us to better understand our strengths and weaknesses as inspectors. Some of us may have a knack for identifying hours-of-service violations or spotting underinflated tires on moving vehicles, but what does it all mean if we can’t figure out how to document those violations on our inspection reports properly?

Until we recognize, acknowledge and do something about our weaknesses, we will continue to make mistakes that solidify our positions as mediocre inspectors.

By no stretch of the imagination am I an omniscient inspector. Certainly, there are some things I don’t completely understand and other things I struggle to grasp. Evaluating my performance allows me to identify my shortcomings as an inspector, and my desire for self-improvement pushes me to do something about it.

In recent years, I completed a self-assessment of my understanding of hydraulic brake systems. I quickly came to realize I didn’t know enough about them. Even though I had attended training sessions that described each system and watched CVSA videos, I still struggled to properly identify the different hydraulic systems and the processes for checking them. At this point, I decided to learn more about each hydraulic brake system to become a better inspector.

Using information from previous courses and advice from senior inspectors, I began putting together quick reference sheets for each system. The reference sheets included a picture of the system, a basic diagram, a list of things to check and procedures to follow. These reference sheets allowed me to quickly identify the hydraulic brake system and the procedures that would ensure the system was working properly.

Creating these documents allowed me to better understand something I previously had a loose grasp on. I am now a better inspector because I recognized, acknowledged and did something about my weakness. My improved understanding of the different systems and the reference sheets I created not only help me roadside, but are also useful for other inspectors struggling to understand these brake systems.

Even though my understanding of hydraulic brake systems has improved drastically, I still believe there is always room for improvement. With each inspection I complete and every violation I discover, I gain a deeper understanding of the brake system and how it operates. This continual improvement is a process each of us could follow. It allows us to incrementally improve our performance in problem areas by identifying and analyzing our weaknesses. The process may not turn ordinary inspectors into rockstars overnight, but it’s a starting point.

I challenge you to identify one aspect of your daily routine that you struggle with or don’t completely understand. Once identified, figure out a plan to improve your weakness by utilizing the people and resources available to you. With a little courage, discipline and time, you will slowly become a master of your weakness and a role model for new inspectors to emulate.