CVSA Cancels Inspectors Championship Over Coronavirus
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This year’s North American Inspectors Championship has been canceled due to coronavirus-related safety concerns, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced April 23.
The decision was made in conjunction with the recent cancellation of American Trucking Associations’ National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships. The two competitions have been held concurrently for the past 27 years.
NAIC was scheduled to overlap with the truck driving competition Aug. 18-22 in Indianapolis. Kerri Wirachowsky, director of CVSA’s roadside inspection programs, said ATA’s decision to cancel NTDC pushed the NAIC event runners in the same direction. Next year’s NAIC is scheduled for Aug. 10-14 in Minneapolis.
CVSA has made the decision to cancel this year's North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) due to health and safety concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Next year's NAIC will go on as planned Aug. 10-14, 2021, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. https://t.co/pxmvzsJ07Q — CVSA (@CVSA) April 24, 2020
“Although we know everyone understands why this decision was made, we still regret having to break the disappointing news,” said CVSA President John Samis, who also is a sergeant with the Delaware State Police. “We know how much NAIC means to our commercial motor vehicle enforcement community. Enforcement personnel train, study and prepare for NAIC and look forward to the camaraderie and competitive atmosphere of the championship. We’re sorry to have to cancel NAIC this year but, given the current global crisis, we know it’s for the best.”
The event challenges roadside safety officers from Canada, Mexico and the U.S. to complete a written test and vehicle inspections. Additionally, participants attend training sessions, typically on subjects such as hazardous materials, motor coach inspections and violation documentation.
Wirachowsky noted that even if the coronavirus pandemic is well-contained by August, travel-related limitations likely will still be in place.
Wirachowsky
“We know that even if things are back to normal by August, there will likely be restrictions on travel that would make attendance restricted for many,” Wirachowsky said.
CVSA also canceled the Data Management, Quality and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Systems Training event that was scheduled to take place in tandem with NAIC. The training program offers instruction from CVSA and FMCSA officials to people who report state inspection and crash records used to support transportation safety programs.
The training event has been rescheduled for Jan. 27-29 in Savannah, Ga., where it will take place in conjunction with CVSA’s Cooperative Hazardous Materials Enforcement Development Conference.
“Quality state inspection and crash reporting information is vital to the success of our data-driven safety programs and our ultimate goal of saving lives and making our roadways safer,” Samis said. “Although we regret that we cannot offer training in August due to the coronavirus outbreak, CVSA and FMCSA will partner once again to offer this valuable training event early next year.”
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