CVSA Schedules Road Check for May 17th-19th
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has announced this year’s International Roadcheck dates as May 17th-19th with a focus on wheel ends.
Roadcheck is a 72-hour high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection, and enforcement initiative. Commercial motor vehicle inspectors in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will conduct North American Standard Inspections of commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weighing and inspection stations, on roving patrols, and at temporary inspection sites.
Each year, CVSA focuses on a specific aspect of a roadside inspection. This year, the focus will be on wheel ends. Wheel end components support the heavy loads carried by commercial motor vehicles, maintain stability and control, and are critical for braking. Violations involving wheel-end components historically account for about one-quarter of the vehicle out-of-service violations discovered during Roadcheck, and past Roadcheck data routinely identified wheel-end components as a top 10 vehicle violation.
Driver requirement inspections
During the inspection, inspectors will collect and verify the driver’s documents, identify the motor carrier, check the driver’s license and record of duty status, and review periodic inspection reports. If applicable, the inspector will also check the driver’s medical examiner certificate, medical variance documents, and daily vehicle inspection report. Other driver-focused categories include seat belt use, sickness or fatigue, and alcohol and/or drug possession or impairment.
Driver requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness are the two primary parts of a North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure. A third part, hazardous materials/dangerous goods, may also be part of a Level I inspection if applicable.
Prepare drivers for Roadcheck
Inspections are conducted every day of the year across North America, but drivers should realize that the risk of being stopped will increase during Roadcheck.
Inspectors will primarily be conducting the North American Standard Level I Inspection, which is the most thorough roadside inspection. It is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both drivers operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. Drivers are required to provide items such as their driver’s license, hours-of-service documentation, motor carrier registration, and shipping documentation, and inspectors will be checking drivers for seat belt usage and the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The vehicle inspection includes checking items such as the brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices (required lamps), steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs, windshield wipers, and emergency exits (on buses).