CVSA Roadcheck Shows 20.9% Vehicle Out-of-Service Rate

A Virginia State Police Officer performs a safety inspection on a truck's brakes. (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance)

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The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s three-day International Roadcheck event resulted in an overall vehicle out-of-service rate of 20.9% in North America. That marks an increase from 17.9% recorded last year.

International Roadcheck is an annual 72-hour inspection and enforcement initiative conducted by CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. This year’s International Roadcheck took place Sept. 9-11. The event, scheduled for early May, was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Over the course of International Roadcheck, officials conducted motor vehicle and driver inspections while following health and safety protocols to protect the drivers and other inspectors. Vehicles inspected included large trucks, cargo tanks carrying hazardous materials, nonhazmat cargo tanks and passenger vehicles.

A total of 50,151 inspections were conducted. This figure represents 26,451 Level I inspections, 11,224 for Level II, 11,364 for Level III and 1,112 for Level V.

“[The event] highlights the daily work of the more than 13,000 commercial motor vehicle inspectors throughout North America and acknowledges the safety compliance of motor carriers and professional drivers through the issuance of the CVSA decal on eligible vehicles,” CVSA noted in the announcement of results.

Decals are issued to vehicles that do not have critical vehicle inspection item violations after a Level I or Level V inspection. This year, decals were applied to 9,303 power units, 3,662 trailers and 123 passenger vehicles.

The top five vehicle-related out-of-service violations in North America were brake systems, tires, lights, cargo securement and brake adjustment. For driver-related out-of-service violations, the top five violations had to do with hours of service, “other” violations, wrong class license, false logs and suspended license. “Other” violations refer to errors such as moving violations or cellphone use.

Some 45,046 Level I, II and III inspections were conducted in the U.S. Over the course of these inspections, 7,256 vehicles and 2,365 drivers were removed from roadways. The most common vehicle out-of-service violation in the U.S. had to do with brake systems, which represented 25.4% of out-of-service vehicle violations. On the driver side, the most common violation in the U.S. pertained to hours of service, which represented 32.5% of out-of-service driver violations.

During this year's #InternationalRoadcheck, 26,451 Level I Inspections, 11,224 Level II Inspections, 11,364 Level III Inspections and 1,112 Level V Inspections were conducted throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S., totaling 50,151 inspections. https://t.co/zMlbj1vUzf pic.twitter.com/f6tMqWzOoF — CVSA (@CVSA) December 17, 2020

Since its start in 1988, more than 1.7 million roadside inspections have been conducted during International Roadcheck events. The initiative involves participation from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation.

The next International Roadcheck is scheduled to take place May 4-6.

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