This year, Roadcheck will take place June 4-6th. On average, 14 trucks or buses will be inspected every minute from Canada to Mexico during the 72-hour period in June. The Commerical Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) says roughly 10,000 inspectors from state, local and federal enforcement agencies will be stationed at 1,500 inspection points across the U.S. to do the roadside inspections.
Why should you take Roadcheck 2013 seriously?
Results of Roadcheck 2012:
- 74,072 inspections were conducted (over 4,000 more than 2011)
- Of the vehicles inspected, 20.9% were placed out of service for mechanical problems (2% more than 2011)
- The driver out-of-service rate was 4.6% (.6% more than 2011)
Top 10 Roadside Vehicle Inspection Violations for 2012:
- Operating Vehicle Not Having The Required Operable Lamps
- No/Defective Lighting Devices/Reflective Devices/Projected
- Tire—Other Tread Depth Less Than 2/32 Of Inch
- Oil And/Or Grease Leak
- Clamp/Roto-Chamber Type Brake(S) Out Of Adjustment
- Inspection/Repair And Maintenance Parts And Accessories
- Operating A Cmv Without Periodic Inspection
- No/Discharged/Unsecured Fire Extinguisher
- Failing To Secure Brake Hose/Tubing Against Mechanical Damage
- Inoperative Turn Signal
Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world. Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during Roadcheck have numbered more than 1 million resulting in more than 220 lives saved and 4,045 injuries avoided.
CVSA has also provided for the distribution of countless pieces of educational literature and safety events to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.
Below are some Roadcheck 2013 resources for Drivers and Fleets:
Roadcheck 2013 Tip Sheet For Drivers
Get to the Point/ In the Inspector’s Seat – A Roadcheck Roadmap
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Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Last week the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced that a record 74,072 truck and bus inspections took place during this year’s Operation Roadcheck, the world’s largest annual 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz for CDL drivers and trucking companies.
There were a total of 48,815 North American Standard Level 1 inspections - the most comprehensive roadside inspection - resulting in a total of 22.4% of vehicles, and 3.9% of drivers, being placed out of service. Both percentages are the second-lowest achieved in Roadcheck’s 25-year history, and continue a downward trend.
The overall OOS rates for the entire event in 2012, including all inspection levels, were 20.9% for vehicles and 4.6% for drivers, both of which were higher than Roadcheck 2011.
Despite the positive trend on Level 1 inspections, the CVSA expressed concern that one in five vehicles selected for inspection was found with a violation serious enough to be considered an imminent safety hazard. While the attention to maintenance and regulatory compliance generally is improving, more needs to be done by industry and enforcement alike.
“Once again, Roadcheck effectively identifies and removes from the road truck and bus companies that cut corners at the expense of safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “FMCSA embraces Roadcheck 100 percent and for good reason – it enforces high safety standards and improves roadway safety for everyone.”
The 74,072 inspections conducted during Roadcheck 2012 included 652 inspections of passenger-carrying vehicles and 4,826 inspections of vehicles carrying hazardous materials. Of passenger-carrying vehicles inspected, 8.6% of vehicles and 2.5% of drivers were placed out of service. Of vehicles carrying hazardous materials, 15.6% of vehicles and 2.3% of drivers were placed out of service.
Roadcheck 2012 took place June 5-7, with an average of more than 1,000 trucks or buses inspected every hour. Inspections included an examination of driver license and credentials, proper and complete records-of-duty status, safety belt use, driving behaviors and other driver safety conditions. Vehicles were examined for proper brake system maintenance, tire condition, function of lighting systems, properly secured loads and other vehicle condition-related violations.
About CVSA
CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The CVSA's mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. CVSA member jurisdictions are represented by various Departments of Transportation, Public Utility and Service Commissions, State Police, Highway Patrols and Ministries of Transport.
In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Earlier this month, President Obama signed the Highway Reauthorization bill known as Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, or MAP-21.
The fully-funded 27 month bill (running through the end of FY 2014) allows more than $100 billion to be spent on highway, mass transit, and other transportation programs. MAP-21 represents a bi-partisan compromise, ending nearly three years of deadlock and delay, with nine extensions, since the last comprehensive funding law expired in September 2009.
The bill stipulates that all federal taxes on diesel fuel and gasoline, and all excise taxes on trucks, tractors, and tires, will remain unchanged through September 30, 2016, and the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax will remain unchanged through September 30, 2017. In addition, the bill focuses on several significant changes to the FMCSA’s safety programs, including:
- 34-hour Restart Study – FMCSA must complete a field study by March 31, 2013 to determine the efficacy of the changes to the hours-of-service 34-hour restart provision, due to go into effect in July 2013. The language does not prohibit the agency from putting the restart changes into effect based on (or pending) the results of the study.
- Electronic Logs (EOBRs) – DOT must establish regulations mandating electronic logging devices within one year. This controversial issue was further complicated by the passing of a recent House amendment that would strip funding for the EOBR mandate. More to come on this topic in August.
- Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse – Within two years, the DOT must establish, operate, and maintain a national clearinghouse to capture drivers’ positive drug/alcohol test results and records of refusals to test. Motor carriers will be required to query the clearinghouse when screening new driver applicants.
- Employer Notification System – Within one year, FMCSA must establish standards for state systems that automatically notify motor carriers of drivers’ moving violations, suspensions, etc. Motor carriers may use these systems to meet the current annual motor vehicle record review requirements. Within 2 years, FMCSA must develop recommendations, and a plan, for implementing a national system to perform these functions.
- New Entrant Testing and Audits – DOT must require new motor carriers entering the industry to complete a proficiency test on safety regulations and to complete a DOT safety fitness review within 12 months
- Broker Bond – The broker bond is increased to $75,000 and applies to freight-forwarders, as well.
- Freight Policy – A new National Freight Network is established, requiring DOT to create a national freight plan, which will include an assessment of the condition and performance of the national freight network and identification of highway freight bottlenecks
- Truck Size and Weight – There is no increase to the size and weight limits, other than an increase in allowable weight for idling reduction devices (from 400 lbs to 550 lbs). However, DOT is required to conduct a comprehensive size and weight study within two years, and to compile a list of the existing truck size and weight limit laws in every state.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has prepared a section-by-section summary of the relevant trucking-specific portions of MAP-21. See it here.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Operation Roadcheck is a 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz in which an estimated 10,000 inspectors set up more than 1,000 checkpoints on highways across North America to monitor truck safety compliance. Since its inception in 1988, Operation Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world.
As in past events, this year's Roadcheck will focus on commercial vehicle and driver safety and security. However, with the advent of CSA, these roadside inspections now play an even more important role. That’s because all inspection violations will become part of your CSA record. The Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses the on-road safety performance of carriers and drivers to identify candidates for interventions, determine the specific safety problems a carrier or driver exhibits, and to monitor whether safety problems are improving or worsening.
Here are five steps you can take to make sure you survive Roadcheck 2012:
- Understand the inspection process. The roadside inspection involves a comprehensive 37-step procedure which includes items related to vehicle, driver and cargo safety. Click here for a complete list of the inspection procedures.
- Know the most frequently cited violations. Last year, CMV enforcement conducted nearly 71,000 truck and bus inspections during the three-day event, focusing primarily on the Level 1 inspection. HOS logbook violations led overwhelmingly as a percentage of all driver violations cited, as over 50% of drivers placed OOS because of HOS violations. With CSA’s Fatigued Driving BASIC, these HOS violations affect both the driver’s and the carrier’s CSA scores. Only 14% of those drivers inspected indicated they were using electronic logs. For equipment, the most frequent violations include brake issues, tires and wheels, lights, load securement, steering, frames, and suspensions. See Top Hazards for Truck Drivers during Roadside Inspections.
- Keep your vehicle clean and well maintained.
- Conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Treat the inspector with courtesy and respect.
For more information on Operation Roadcheck, visit http://www.cvsa.org/. The 2012 edition of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Handbook and Pictorial is also now available for purchase.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
CVSA’s annual 72 hour enforcement campaign, Roadcheck, was conducted June 7-9. The results from the effort were recently announced, and the numbers look better than they have for years. The data reveals that the commercial motor carrier and motor coach industries continue to improve the maintenance and safety of their operations, with overall out-of-service (OOS) rates being the lowest since Roadcheck began.
Nearly 8,000 CVSA and FMCSA certified inspectors across North America performed 70,712 truck and bus inspections during the three-day event. Inspectors focused on the North American Standard (NAS) Level I inspection, motorcoach inspections, hours of service logbooks, and household goods (HHG) carriers.
Drivers were pulled over or directed into weigh stations or other inspection locations and asked to show their commercial driver's license, medical examiner's certificate and record of duty status. Brakes, tires, lights and every major safety component of the truck or bus, plus proper load securement were also examined during Roadcheck.
Once again, hours of service (HOS) logbook violations lead overwhelmingly as a percentage of all driver violations cited, as over 50% of drivers placed OOS because of HOS violations. With CSA’s Fatigued Driving BASIC, these HOS violations affect both the driver’s and the carrier’s CSA scores. Only 14% of those drivers inspected indicated they were using electronic logs.
This year’s data shows the overall vehicle compliance rate at 80.7% (80.0% in 2010), with an overall driver compliance rate of 95.8% (95.6% from last year). For Level I inspections, the compliance rates were up to 77.2% for vehicles (76.7% in 2010) and 96.3% for drivers (unchanged from 2010). In addition, there were 296 fewer safety belt violations in 2011 (863 vs. 1,159 in 2010).
"Although overall out-of-service rates are at record lows, there is room for improvement until the roads are free from vehicle and driver violations," said CVSA's Executive Director Stephen A. Keppler. "Events that focus on ensuring vehicles and drivers are complying with the law, like Roadcheck and all roadside inspections, draw critical attention to out-of-service rates and are shown to also impact crash reductions."
This is especially true with as we ALL look to improve our CSA scores.
If you are a driver who was inspected during Roadcheck 2011, please share your experience by commenting on this post. Were you cited for anything, warned for anything, or did you get a clean inspection?
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
CDL Drivers and Carriers: Mark your calendars! Roadcheck 2011 will be conducted June 7-9.
Operation Roadcheck is a 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz in which an estimated 10,000 inspectors set up more than 1,000 checkpoints on highways across North America to monitor truck safety compliance. Since its inception in 1988, Operation Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world with an estimated 14 trucks or buses being inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during the three day period.
The inspections are held in cooperation with the FMCSA, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico.
As in past events, this year's Roadcheck will focus on commercial vehicle and driver safety and security. However, with the advent of CSA, these roadside inspections now play an even more important role. That’s because all inspection violations will become part of your CSA record. The Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses the on-road safety performance of carriers and drivers to identify candidates for interventions, determine the specific safety problems a carrier or driver exhibits, and to monitor whether safety problems are improving or worsening.
Here are five steps you can take to make sure you survive Roadcheck 2011:
- Understand the inspection process. The roadside inspection involves a comprehensive 37-step procedure which includes items related to vehicle, driver and cargo safety. Click here for a complete list of the inspection procedures.
- Know the most frequently cited violations. Last year, CMV enforcement conducted 65,327 inspections across the US. Of those, almost 49,000 were Level 1. 4.4 percent of the drivers and 19.6 percent of the vehicles were placed out of service. The specific driver violations include hours of service, false logs, license issues, age and drug and alcohol issues. For equipment, the most frequent violations include brake issues, tires and wheels, lights, load securement, steering, frames, and suspensions.
- Keep your vehicle clean and well maintained.
- Conduct thorough pre- and post-trip inspections.
- Treat the inspector with courtesy and respect.
The CVSA has announced that the 2011 edition of the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Handbook and Pictorial is now available for purchase. For more information on Operation Roadcheck, visit http://www.cvsa.org/.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will hold this year's annual Roadcheck from June 8-10.
Operation Roadcheck is a 72-hour roadside inspection and enforcement blitz in which an estimated 10,000 inspectors set up more than 1,000 checkpoints on highways across North America to monitor truck safety compliance. Since its inception in 1988, Operation Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world with an estimated 14 trucks or buses being inspected, on average, every minute from Canada to Mexico during the 72-hour period.
The inspections are held in cooperation with the FMCSA, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico.
As in past events, this year's Roadcheck will focus on commercial vehicle and driver safety and security. However, this year's version has the added bonus of being the first safety blitz that will affect your CSA 2010 score. Drivers should make sure their logbooks are current and their equipment properly maintained with no violations as CVSA inspectors will be checking both. Keep in mind that all inspection violations will become part of your CSA 2010 record. What inspectors find, or don't find, can affect your CSA 2010 ratings. Even violations not resulting in an out-of-service order will be tabulated into the CSA 2010 safety measurement system (SMS).
Under CSA 2010, vehicle-maintenance, load-securement violations, driver history, driver fitness (driver appropriately licensed), carrier crash history, and the use of controlled substances are among the criteria used to calculate a carrier's BASIC rating. Such data from roadside inspections is then measured to determine whether a carrier qualifies for an intervention by the FMCSA. For more information on CSA 2010, check http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/.
For more information on Operation Roadcheck, visit http://www.cvsa.org/.
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is releasing the 2010 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria (OOSC), providing law enforcement and the motor carrier industry with a valuable tool designed to improve commercial motor vehicle safety by promoting uniformity in compliance and enforcement throughout North America.
CVSA has been maintaining, updating, and publishing the OOSC annually for more than twenty years which becomes effective throughout North America every April 1st. The OOSC is used by highly-qualified, specially-trained and certified state and federal law enforcement personnel in identifying Critical Vehicle Inspection Item violations following a roadside inspection that can prohibit a motor carrier or operator from driving or operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified period of time or until the defective condition is corrected. Approximately four-million commercial vehicle roadside inspections are conducted annually across North America by government enforcement agencies. Issued upon the completion of a Level I or V inspection, CVSA decals are only applied to commercial motor vehicles with no violations of the Critical Vehicle Inspection Items contained in the OOSC. The OOSC is focused on the issues most critical to maintaining the safe operations of commercial vehicles on our roadways.
"It is in the best interests of every driver and motor carrier to be familiar with the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria," said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA's Interim Executive Director. "Knowing which commercial motor vehicle violations have been identified as being the most serious is helpful because it provides necessary focus in properly maintaining vehicles and it saves lives. It also helps prevent unnecessary delays and down time in transit as a result of having a driver or vehicle placed out-of-service."
Roadside inspection results are used in part to identify motor carriers that present a high degree of risk to the motoring public. As a result, the data collected helps in determining which transportation companies will be selected for review under FMCSA's new Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) initiative. "With full implementation of CSA 2010 activities on the horizon, such as the new Carrier Safety Measurement System, knowing the ‘Criteria' in advance can assist a motor carrier ensure the accuracy of the roadside inspection data collected and contained within a motor carrier's safety profile," said Larry G. Woolum, Regulatory Affairs Director of the Ohio Trucking Association and Chair of CVSA's Associate Advisory Committee.
"The information collected during a roadside inspection provides the foundation for data-driven traffic safety initiatives. As a result, the importance of this issue cannot be understated, as it has strong implications to not only CSA 2010 but all of our traffic safety programs," said Buzzy France, CVSA's President. "Commercial motor vehicle safety continues to be a challenge and we need the involvement of all affected parties to help us better understand these issues and put into place practical solutions. As commercial vehicle inspectors, our continued diligence will help us reach our ultimate goal of saving lives."
For more information on the North American Standard Inspection Program, or on how to obtain the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, visit http://www.cvsa.org/. For more information on CSA 2010, visit http://csa2010.fmcsa.dot.gov/
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.