Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts a nationwide international roadcheck. In previous years, CVSA launched its vehicle inspection blitz the first week of June. The agency has recently announced its plans for an earlier inspection to take place from May 5-7, 2020. They also announced the safety focus for this year’s roadcheck—driver inspections.
ELD Compliance Driving Force Behind Roadcheck Focus
Of the 3.36 million inspections CVSA conducted in 2019, they noted 944,794 driver violations. Of those violations, CVSA placed 195,545 drivers out-of-service due to the severity of the violation. While every roadcheck conducts inspections as per usual, CVSA hopes to focus drivers’ and fleets’ attention on specific categories.
Many of those categories focus on a specific safety concern such as regulations regarding tires, lights, brakes, etc. However, in December of 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate went into full force without any lingering grandfather clauses. As a result, CVSA decided 2020’s roadcheck would be the perfect opportunity to revisit driver requirements.
What to Expect During the International Roadcheck
CVSA inspectors most often perform a Level I or Level V inspection during the annual roadchecks. If the inspector finds no violations, the driver will receive a decal for his or her truck. If the inspector notes any critical violations, the driver may be subject to an out-of-service notice. If this happens, the truck will remain inoperable until the driver or fleet addresses the issue. Drivers themselves can receive out-of-service notices as well.
CVSA gives fleets and drivers plenty of notice regarding the dates of the annual roadcheck to give them time to conduct preventative maintenance, fulfill administrative tasks, and more to prepare for the event. Each inspection involves verifying the driver’s documentation and credentials as well as their records of duty status (RODS). Depending on the circumstances, the inspector may also request to see the driver’s Medical Examiner Certificate, Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate, and daily inspection reports.
The inspection also includes a vehicle component. The inspector will check several systems and mechanisms such as brakes, lights, steering, cargo securement, and more. Fleets and commercial drivers need to take the time to thoroughly inspect their vehicles to ensure they are meeting all safety regulations to avoid fines or out-of-service notices. To learn more about preparing for the international roadcheck and improving your fleet’s safety, contact the experts at DriverCheck.
