Commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel conducted roadside inspections on vehicles and drivers throughout the United States and Canada during the 2019 International Roadcheck held June 4-6. Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) sponsors an International Roadcheck to promote the importance of highway safety for commercial truckers. During the three-day event, certified vehicle inspectors conduct inspections on commercial trucks, buses, and drivers with an emphasis on specific safety violations. This year’s focus was on steering and suspension systems.
Highway Safety for Commercial Truckers
During the 2019 International Roadcheck, CVSA certified inspectors focused on the Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that examines driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. Inspections included:
- Examination of truckers’ driver’s licenses
- Drivers’ records of duty status
- Vehicle inspection reports
- Steering and suspension systems
- Tires, wheels, and rims
- Battery compartment and electrical cables
In addition to Level I Inspections, safety inspectors may choose to perform the Level II, Level III, and Level V inspections that involve different operational systems and driver credentials.
This year’s International Roadcheck emphasized the importance of safe steering and suspension systems that are critical to prevent trucking accidents. These systems help to maintain vehicle stability, an essential safety factor for large commercial trucks, tractor-trailers, and buses that carry heavy loads. They also promote safe braking, keep tires in alignment, and reduce uneven tire wear that causes dangerous blowouts.
During inspections, drivers must provide their commercial driver’s license and operating credentials, a Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate (if applicable), and a Medical Examiner’s Certificate. Inspectors examine each driver’s use of seat belts, as well as recorded rest stops and recorded incidents of fatigue, illness, and alcohol and/or drug impairment. If no vehicle violations are found during inspections, vehicles receive a CVSA decal indicating that the inspection was successful and the vehicle passed inspection by CVSA certified inspectors. Vehicles and/or drivers that have violations will not receive a certification decal, and the vehicle may be taken out of service if serious inspection violations are found.
International Roadcheck is the largest safety program in the world for commercial motor vehicles. During yearly events, at least 17 commercial trucks and buses are inspected every minute in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Since the safety campaign began in 1988, over 1.6 million roadside inspections have been conducted.