The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4th-6th as the 72-hour period for this year’s International Roadcheck. During this time, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will regulate inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers. This year’s Roadcheck will have an emphasis on lighting and hours of service.
As reported by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the lighting violation “lamps inoperable” was the number one vehicle violation during the fiscal 2020, accounting for 12.24% of all vehicle violations discovered that year. While during last year’s International Roadcheck, the top driver out-of-service violation category in North America was hours of service, responsible for 34.7% of all driver out-of-service conditions.
During the inspection, inspectors will be making sure that the vehicle’s brake systems, lighting devices, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, cargo securement, driver’s seat, steering mechanisms, fuel systems, exhaust systems, frames, suspensions, tires, can and open top trailer bodies, wheels, hubs, rims, and windshield wipers are compliant with regulations. Inspections that involve passenger vans, motorcoaches, and other passenger-carrying vehicles will also include seating, electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments, and emergency exits.
Inspectors are going to be checking for critical vehicle inspection item violations, which are outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If any of those violations are found, the vehicle will be placed out-of-service, which means that vehicle cannot be operated until the identified out-of-service conditions have been corrected.
During an inspection, inspectors will be checking the driver’s operating credentials, hours of service documentation, seat belt usage, and for alcohol and or drug impairment. The driver will be placed out-of-service if an inspector discovers driver-related out-of-service conditions. Drivers will also be asked to provide proof of their operating credentials, medical cards, records of duty status and vehicle inspection reports. Drivers will also be evaluated for basic levels of training.
On average during the three days of the International Roadcheck, 17 trucks and buses are inspected in the United States, Canada and Mexico every minute. Vehicles that pass the inspection without any critical item violations after a Level 1 or Level 5 inspection will receive a CVSA decal. This decal usually results in no additional inspections during the three month it is valid.
The International Roadcheck is a CVSA program with participation by the FMCSA, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation and its National Guard.
