From May 4-6, 2021 the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will be holding its International Roadcheck. During this 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be conducting inspections on commercial motor vehicles and their drivers. The CVSA will collect data on these inspections, and release a report later in the year.
Each year, the CVSA asks inspectors to record data for certain violation categories as focus areas. These are usually problem areas where the CVSA wants to raise awareness.
This year, the CVSA has two focus areas: hours of service and vehicle lighting. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, these two violations were least year’s number one out-of-service driver and vehicle violations, respectively.
Driver Focus: Hours of Service
Inspectors will record drivers’ hours-of-service documentation to ensure that drivers are meeting the minimum rest time requirements between shifts. The U.S., Canada, and Mexico all have strict regulations to help reduce driver fatigue. Inspectors will also check the driver’s operating credentials, seat belt usage, and for alcohol and drug impairment.
Vehicle Focus: Lighting
Lighting violations for “lamps inoperable” were the top offenders in 2020, so inspectors will be paying special attention to vehicles’ lighting devices. These include headlamps, tail lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps, license plate and side-marker lamps, stop lamps, turn signals, and lamps on projecting loads.
The main point of International Roadcheck is to raise awareness about road safety and the North American Standard Inspection Program. These inspections take place in CVSA jurisdictions year-round, so it’s a great reminder to make sure your fleet is fully-maintained, and that your drivers are trained and ready for safety on the road.
To learn more about the 2021 International Roadcheck, click here.
