Inspection and Repair Industry: Inspection Stations
Inspection Stations
Station Certification & Renewals
Station Notices
Information for Inspectors
All inspection stations and inspectors are required to be licensed by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to conduct vehicle inspections. The Massachusetts Vehicle Check program is rapidly approaching a full compliment of public light-duty inspection stations. Licenses are still available for fleet, mobile and heavy duty public inspection stations, as we anticipate an increased need for this class of station.
An applicant for a class M motorcycle inspection station license must be a Motorcycle Dealer licensed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 140, § 58 or a motorcycle repairman who possesses a license required by law to carry on a repair business and who has received factory training or equivalent training approved by the Registrar.
For more information about inspections and licensing requirements, please see the inspection station rules and regulations posted at http://www.mass.gov/rmv/inspect/540cmr400.pdf or call the station support hotline at 877-834-4677.
If you would like to be considered for a fleet, mobile, or heavy duty public inspection station,
please e-mail Mark.LaFrance@state.ma.us Please include the following information:
- Station Name (if applicable)
- Contact Person
- Address
- Telephone
- Class of station you are interested in applying for (Class C, D, E, or F)
Alternately, you may send you request via U.S. mail to: Mark LaFrance, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, RMV Division, P.O. Box 55892, Boston, MA 02205-5892.
Please note: The RMV does not anticipate utilizing stations on the “waiting list” for a public light-duty inspection station except under extenuating circumstances, such as areas of the Commonwealth that are deemed to be underserved. If you have previously placed your name on the waiting list for a Class A or Class B station license, we will contact you if a license becomes available.
Station Certification and Renewals
Station certification occurs through the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). To learn more, visit their website.
Station Notices
In addition to your workstation messages, the Massachusetts Vehicle Check team will update this page with notices important to you and your staff. Check back often!
October 3, 2008
Download this message
to Inspectors regarding unusual test data.
.doc
(36 KB) or .pdf (24 KB)
MASS08 Workstation Helpful Hints:
- Be Careful at the End of Test VIR/Sticker Print:
- GO SLOWLY AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE PROMPTS!
- STEP 1 - Scan the 2D barcode.
- This barcode contains a lot of information about the inspection, such as the vehicle VIN, registration information, and the “expected” sticker number – the sticker number the workstation assigns to the inspection. This sticker number is printed on the VIR in the upper left hand column, under the “Overall Result” section. Scanning it ensures the VIR and sticker printed legibly.
- If you scan the wrong 2D barcode, the workstation reports the barcode as incorrect and asks you to scan the barcode from the expected sticker. The expected sticker # is displayed on the screen.
- If no sticker prints or the sticker cannot be scanned, hit [ESC]. You will then be prompted to enter the vehicle’s VIN. The vehicle VIN can be scanned from the vehicle’s VIN plate or entered manually using the keyboard. Once you enter the VIN, the workstation will attempt to print another sticker.
- If you cannot enter the VIN because the vehicle has left the station with the sticker, hit [ESC] and follow the prompts to scan the next sticker in the printer tray. DO NOT SHUT DOWN THE WORKSTATION IF YOU HAVE A STICKER PRINTING PROBLEM –THE WORKSTATION WILL BE LOCKED OUT FROM TESTING.
- STEP 2 - Scan the 1D barcode.
- This pre-printed barcode contains the sticker number. This number must always match the “expected” sticker number assigned by the workstation that is printed on the VIR in the upper left hand column, under the “Overall Result” section.
- If you cannot scan the 1D barcode, press the [ESC] key and enter the vehicle’s VIN. The workstation will print another sticker. DO NOT SHUT DOWN THE WORKSTATION IF YOU HAVE A STICKER PRINTING PROBLEM –THE WORKSTATION WILL BE LOCKED OUT FROM TESTING.
- If you scan the 1D barcode from an unexpected sticker that is assigned to your workstation, you will be asked if you want to try again. Selecting (Y)es will prompt you to try and scan the 1D barcode again.
- If you select (N)o, another sticker will print after confirming the sticker numbering sequence. FOLLOW THE SCREEN PROMPTS TO COMPLETE THE BARCODE SCANNING
- You must save all voided and damaged stickers for RMV.
- Loading VIR/Sticker Stock - Be sure to load the stock properly:
- Load into the top printer tray;
- Load the stock upside down;
- When loaded properly, the sticker should be in the right-rear corner of the tray.
- Do not get stickers out of order, or you will have trouble completing inspections. They come shipped in the correct order so that when you load them, the lowest number is on the top. Load new stickers underneath any older stickers in the tray.
- When in doubt, the “Status Screen” prior to each inspection tells you which sticker number should be printed out next.
- Scanning Inspector ID barcodes
- Be careful to scan only the 2D barcode on your inspector license. If you are in the habit of accidentally scanning the 1D barcode, cover the 1D barcode with a piece of tape to make barcode scanning easier.
- f you scan the wrong barcode type, the workstation will tell you to try it again. You must hit [ENTER] before trying again.
- Inspections on vehicles that have a previous year’s sticker - Scan the 2D barcode on the sticker when asked to enter the VIN. This will retrieve the VIN and registration information from the previous inspection and save you time! This works for retests, and when you inspect the vehicle next year.
- Changing Plate Type and Plate Number after previous year’s windshield sticker has been scanned.
- New workstation software now allows inspectors to edit the vehicle’s plate type and plate number when conducting an inspection.
- After scanning the windshield sticker, use the Up Arrow button to move the cursor to with the Plate Type or Plate Number field and edit the plate type and/or plate number fields with the corrected information.
- This edited information will appear on the vehicle summary screen.
- Correcting Mistakes After Entering Vehicle Information with a keyboard.
- If you make a mistake entering vehicle information (e.g., Vehicle Type, Odometer, Body Style) and hit [ENTER] to advance the cursor to the next field, you cannot go back and change a field on that screen.
- Do not abort the inspection. Instead, finish the remaining entries and go to the next Confirm Information screen. The Confirm Information screen prompts inspectors with the question: “Continue with Inspection?”. Select [NO] , and the workstation software will take you back to the previous screen where you can then make the necessary corrections.
- Hitting [ESC] to Abort an Inspection - your options include:
- Abort the inspection - this logs you out and takes you back to the main vehicle inspection menu
- Restart the inspection - this takes you back to the VIN and Registration data entry page. This saves time if you just want to restart the inspection on the same vehicle.
Information for Inspectors
As the primary communicator with the motorists, the inspector is a vital component of the emissions and safety program. To ensure a high level of proficiency, a prospective inspector for the Massachusetts Vehicle Check Program must:
- Complete specific training
- Be issued a license by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV)
An inspector can be licensed for non-commercial, commercial, 7D and/or motorcycle inspections. Non-commercial and commercial training includes emissions and safety components, while 7D and motorcycle training is for safety only. The commercial training also includes additional material that meets the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requirements for commercial motor vehicle inspectors.
RMV provides inspectors who have received a certificate, met other RMV requirements, and paid appropriate fees if applicable, with an Inspector’s License. An Inspector license is valid for one year unless it is suspended or revoked. People who have not been licensed by RMV or whose Inspector license has been suspended or revoked are not be allowed to perform inspections.
If you are already a licensed Inspector:
- You will need to complete Parsons’ training that is appropriate for your class of Inspector license.
- Then you may continue to perform inspections in the new program until your license expires. At that time, you will need to renew it if you want to continue to perform inspections.
- You must complete recertification training every two years. When you have done this, Parsons will provide the recertification training that you will need for your class of Inspector license.
How to become an inspector
Interested in becoming an inspector? To start the process, download
and complete the Inspector Training
Application or
contact Parsons at 877-834-4677 to request that an application
be mailed to you. You will be required to successfully complete a
state-approved inspector training course at one of the Parsons training
facilities. To learn more about becoming an inspector, contact Parsons
at 877-834-4677.
To learn more about becoming an inspector, contact Parsons at 877-834-4677.
Inspector Training
The Massachusetts Vehicle Check program has established regional training locations
across the state: Pocasset (Bourne), Braintree, Shrewsbury and West
Springfield. An additional location will be set up north of Boston.
Each training class has three components, with separate grades provided for each:
- Classroom attendance and participation
- A written exam
- A hands-on practical demonstration
At the end of the classroom and hands-on sessions, the instructor will determine whether individual students pass or fail each of the sessions. Students who fail a session, must repeat the training class. Students must pass both the classroom and the hands-on sessions to advance to the written exam.
In order to pass, a minimum score of 80% is required on the written exam. Students who pass all three components will receive a Certificate of Completion for the training.
Once the training is complete, the RMV will determine if the inspector meets the remaining licensing requirements, collect the appropriate fee and issue an inspector license (with photo ID). Your license, which is valid for one year, will be mailed to you.
Commercial Vehicle Inspector Training
Qualifications of Inspectors
If you want to become licensed to inspect commercial vehicles, you will need to:
- Have at least one year of of experience:
- In a truck manufacturer-sponsored training program or similar commercial training program designed to train students in truck operation and maintenance; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in a motor carrier maintenance program; or
- As a mechanic or inspector in truck maintenance at a commercial garage, fleet leasing company, or similar facility; or
- As a commercial motor vehicle inspector for a State, Provincial or Federal Government; and
- Have successfully completed a non-commercial and commercial motor vehicle inspection training program that consists of 8 hours of in-classroom training, 2 hours of hands-on training, and a 50-question written exam. The inspector must achieve a score of 80% or better in the written exam.
- Hold an RMV license to operate a vehicle in the GVWR that you want to inspect;
- Hold an RMV inspector’s license for the vehicle class that you want to inspected; and
- Be employed by an inspection station licensed to inspect commercial motor vehicles.
Commercial motor vehicle inspector must renew their training every two years by completing a computer-based training course and passing an exam. Massachusetts Inspector Licenses must be renewed annually.
Recertification Training
The Inspector Training Certificate expires two years after the date on which the Certificate was issued. RMV notifies inspectors by mail 60 days before their training certificates expire. The Recertification training courses are taken online, and not in the classroom. Recertification training will be provided by Computer Based Training methodologies. Inspectors will be provided with a website address and login instructions to complete their online training.
Fees
Initial Training
Fees for training courses are:
Non-commercial: $157.50
Commercial: $105.00
7D: $105.00
Motorcycle: $ 84.00
An inspector who needs to reschedule a confirmed class must provide 48 hours advance notice that s/he cannot attend. Due to class size restrictions, a student who fails to provide 48 hours cancellation notice will still be charged the appropriate fee for the missed training session. Fees must be paid before rescheduling for another training session.
Fees for Recertification training have not been determined yet. When they are established, they will be posted here.