Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Vehicle Inspectors
Vehicle Inspectors inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
Table of contents
What they do
Vehicle Inspectors inspect and monitor transportation equipment, vehicles, or systems to ensure compliance with regulations and safety standards.
- Inspect vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse, damage, or mechanical malfunction.
- Identify modifications to engines, fuel systems, emissions control equipment, or other vehicle systems to determine the impact of modifications on inspection procedures or conclusions.
- Perform low-pressure fuel evaluative tests (LPFET) to test for harmful emissions from vehicles without onboard diagnostics (OBD) equipment.
- Conduct remote inspections of motor vehicles, using handheld controllers and remotely directed vehicle inspection devices.
Typical day
On a daily basis, Vehicle Inspectors prepare reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken. They issue notices and recommend corrective actions when infractions or problems are found.
A typical day for a Vehicle Inspector will also include:
- Inspect vehicles or equipment to ensure compliance with rules, standards, or regulations.
- Inspect vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse, damage, or mechanical malfunction.
- Identify modifications to engines, fuel systems, emissions control equipment, or other vehicle systems to determine the impact of modifications on inspection procedures or conclusions.
- Evaluate new methods of packaging, testing, shipping, or transporting hazardous materials to ensure adequate public safety protection.
- Examine carrier operating rules, employee qualification guidelines, or carrier training and testing programs for compliance with regulations or safety standards.
Other responsibilities
Besides their typical day, Vehicle Inspectors also evaluate new methods of packaging, testing, shipping, or transporting hazardous materials to ensure adequate public safety protection. They may also conduct vehicle or transportation equipment tests, using diagnostic equipment.
On a weekly to monthly basis, Vehicle Inspectors negotiate with authorities, such as local government officials, to eliminate hazards along transportation routes. They might also investigate incidents or violations, such as delays, accidents, and equipment failures.
In addition, they investigate and make recommendations on carrier requests for waiver of federal standards.
Although specific duties may vary, many of them examine carrier operating rules, employee qualification guidelines, or carrier training and testing programs for compliance with regulations or safety standards.
To some Vehicle Inspectors, it is also their responsibility to inspect repairs to transportation vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly.
What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.
I am a Ministry Of Transport Tester. I test vehicles to make sure they are in a roadworthy condition to government standards.
Rolling road brake tester which measures the braking force of each wheel
I have worked in the motor industry for 20 years and although I can say it is a good industry to work in as teamwork and camaraderie is of a high standard, It is a tough job and can be dirty work over long hours and with a low to average pay.
My typical day starts at 8.30 am and finishes at 6 pm and consists of checking vehicles over for roadworthiness to the government standards. If the vehicles don’t meet roadworthy standards then with the customer’s permission we will rectify these faults. Vehicle safety tests (MOTs) are booked online and it is mandatory for people to have them. They will generally either search for Mots centres near them or they will go to the website and book online.
I will go in and check my diary to see how many tests I have and the vehicle details. I can then search the history of the vehicle through the government website. This enables me to see if there are any issues that have arisen before.
Tests typically take between 45 minutes to an hour and involve checking the vehicle over in line with government procedures.
Tests are booked into hour slots, The customer will arrive and hand the keys to reception whereby a job card will be printed out with all the vehicle details and customer details included.
The keys and job card are handed to me and I carry out my test. This is essentially a road safety check I will check lights, seatbelts, steering, suspension, wheels and tyres, structural rigidity and brakes with a rolling road as well as checking with a machine that the emissions meet current EU standards.
I will then enter these details into the online government website and all these details are held on this site so that in an instant government officials, Mot testers and Police can see if the vehicle has a current valid mot test certificate.
Once the test is complete the keys and test certificate are handed back into reception for the customer to be informed as to whether it is a pass or a fail.
My key responsibilities are to make sure that I treat the vehicles with respect so fit seat covers and floor mats and to wear gloves etc. The biggest responsibility is to make sure that I test each vehicle the same and do not miss anything that could lead to the vehicle not being fit for road purpose.
Pros
- You get to work under your own initiative, Usually, there is only one mot tester per garage and no one else knows how to do the role so when you are doing your job you are left to get on with it alone and your paperwork is yours to fill out correctly. This means it can feel like you are working for yourself.
- The camaraderie of working in the motor industry. It can be good fun working with others in the workshop. It is also a pro to know that all of the vehicles you have inspected are on the road legally and are safe for the owner and other road users.
Cons
- The pay is around average but less than most similar trades such as electrician or plumber. It is around the national average for pay but this can vary by 10k or so depending on where in the country you are.
- Sometimes customers will be annoyed when you have failed their vehicle and it is deemed not safe to go back on the road until repaired. Although we can do the repairs it comes at a cost to the customer and they are usually not happy about that.
- Their unhappiness is usually directed towards the person that failed their car which would be me. My line is to tell them that I am testing their car in line with government rules and that is not safe.
- Sometimes it can be dirty work if the engine is leaking oil or the vehicle is rusty etc.
On the whole, it is a good job and there are prospects to work with the DVSA (Driver vehicle standards agency) policing the roads. The pay is ok and generally, the staff and customers are ok to work with.
It is also a job that requires a lot of technical training to be able to do and this does mean that on the whole most MOT testers are of a high quality which can only be good for road safety.
Pros
Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.
Very good salary.
Normal working hours (40 hours per week).
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Vehicle Inspectors with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $35,560 to $54,580 per year or $17 to $26 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $132,710 | $64 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $107,200 | $52 |
| Median | $78,400 | $38 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $54,580 | $26 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $35,560 | $17 |
This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Vehicle Inspectors based on their average annual salary.
| Salary by industry | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | $116020 | $55.78 |
| Nonscheduled Air Transportation | $96950 | $46.61 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | $96360 | $46.33 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $91680 | $44.08 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $90660 | $43.58 |
| Rail Transportation | $89700 | $43.12 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | $84050 | $40.41 |
| Charter Bus Industry | $83600 | $40.19 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | $82220 | $39.53 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $80970 | $38.93 |
View more salary by industries here.
Where can they work
Where can Vehicle Inspectors work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Vehicle Inspectors including the average salary in that industry.
| Employers | Total Employed | Annual Salary | Hourly Wages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch | 4480 | $116020 | $55.78 |
| Local Government | 4130 | $74860 | $35.99 |
| State Government | 3220 | $58170 | $27.97 |
| Rail Transportation | 3060 | $89700 | $43.12 |
| Support Activities for Air Transportation | 1760 | $84050 | $40.41 |
| Automotive Repair and Maintenance | 1570 | $34690 | $16.68 |
| Scheduled Air Transportation | 1280 | $96360 | $46.33 |
| Truck Transportation | 1120 | $67540 | $32.47 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing | 1120 | $82220 | $39.53 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | 770 | $91680 | $44.08 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
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What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
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Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
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On The Job Training
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Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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