CVSA to Kick Off Roadcheck in Spokane, Wash.
This story originally appeared in the May 25 print edition of Transport Topics.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance kicks off its annual three-day Roadcheck inspection enforcement today in Spokane, Washington.
The 72-hour stepped-up enforcement period will feature about 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors performing truck and bus inspections in jurisdictions across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
CVSA said Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program for commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected every minute throughout North America.
During the intensive effort, inspectors will conduct compliance, enforcement and educational initiatives targeted at various safety and security elements of motor carriers, commercial vehicles, drivers and cargo.
This year’s emphasis will be on the proper loading and securing of cargo on vehicles ranging from flatbed trailers to the contents of dry and refrigerated vans, CVSA said.
“The proper loading and securing of cargo on vehicles is a matter of public safety,” CVSA said in a statement. “For many types of loads, particularly those that are not sealed or otherwise inaccessible to the driver, regulations require the driver to stop within the first several miles of a trip and recheck the tie downs and other load-securing equipment.”
During Roadcheck, inspectors primarily will conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, an inspection of both the driver and vehicle, and the most thorough roadside inspection.
The vehicle inspection includes checking such items as the braking system, coupling devices, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, lights, safe loading, steering mechanism, driveline, suspension, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels and rims, windshield wipers and emergency exits on buses.
Drivers also will be required to provide such items as their license, endorsements, medical cards and hours-of-service documentation and will be checked for seat belt use and the use of alcohol or drugs.
CVSA will be assisted in the event by personnel from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation.
Since its inception in 1988, inspectors have made more than 1.4 million inspections during Roadcheck. The event has saved 318 lives and 5,840 injuries, CVSA estimated.
During Roadcheck 2014, the out-of-service rate for vehicles dropped to 18.7% from 20.6% the prior year.
However, CVSA said the number of drivers placed out of service during the 2014 three-day safety blitz crept up to 4.8% from 4.3% in 2013, though hours-of-service violations declined.
In total, law enforcement performed 73,475 truck and bus inspections during Roadcheck last year.
