Ha ha, you have to love the motor carrier enforcement in Georgia sometimes. Back on June 8, YouTuber “ThatEnginnerWithTheGlasses” was traveling around Savannah, and heard a pretty interesting conversation between a dump truck driver and a passing Georgia Motor Carrier Enforcement (MCE) inspector.
Have you checked your mud flaps today?
Mud flaps are a key part of a truck’s equipment inspection. They keep water, rocks and other debris from hitting surrounding cars. Without them, there would be many more shattered windshields and dinged-up body panels.
Capturing the conversation with his rearview camera, which luckily also records audio, ThatEnginnerWithTheGlasses allows us to watch a rather amusing “rolling inspection” ny a MCE officer.
“Those mud flaps are doing no good. You need to get them replaced. You hear me? 10-4, sir.” – Conversation between Georgia MCE inspector and dump truck driver
Yeah, the poor dump truck driver was most likely checking his underwear after the inspector called him out over his vehicle’s public address system. One can see the embarrassment on the driver’s face as he was looking around to see where the sound was coming from, only to see “a full-grown Smoky Bear” right next to him.
What passes for a proper mud flap might not be the same for everyone
“Securely attached, not ripped, torn or frayed, proper clearance from tire and ground. Looks good to me :)”
u/laskomasko on r/Trucker on Reddit
Since we’re on the subject of “proper mud flaps,” r/Trucker on Reddit yielded a laugh that I wanted to share. u/perraapestosa shared a picture of a mudflap, although the material it is fashioned from might not be up to specs.
Using nothing more than two pieces of cardboard, most likely from soda can packaging, this driver fashioned a homemade mud flap. Well, I don’t know how well it will hold up in the rain, since most cardboard is biodegradable and is treated to “digest” itself when wet.
But, according to some comments regarding the “laws of the land,” it’s technically legal as long as it meets measurement and clearance requirements. It might work for a few miles, until the wind pressure breaks it off. But please, buy a proper mud flap made of sturdy material. Rubber, plastic or metal are much better than a soda drink box.
