Fleets in the United States, Canada and Mexico should begin now to prepare for the CVSA International Roadcheck 2023, scheduled for May 16-18. To avoid having their vehicles join the thousands that inspectors will take off the road, fleet managers can take steps now to lower the risk of non-compliance.
The annual CVSA International Roadcheck event typically results in thousands of violations for both vehicles and drivers. The CVSA Roadcheck in May 2022 ended with 12,456 commercial vehicles and 3,714 drivers taken out of service by inspectors.
Every year, inspectors choose a specific area to focus on. Officials typically do not announce those area until February, but in recent years the focus has been on wheel ends and lights.
What Is the CVSA International Roadcheck 2023?
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducts the international roadcheck every year in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Officials with the CVSA conduct inspections at weigh stations, inspection stations and with roving patrols. It’s a 72-hour initiative meant to provide high visibility to safety issues with a high volume of inspections.
The goal is to raise awareness of compliance issues in the commercial transportation industry. Inspectors examine both the vehicles and the driver’s documentation and credentials. They apply the CVSA’s North American Stand Inspection Program to each inspection. They also use the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria to determine if a violation requires taking the vehicle or driver out of service.
Results of the 2022 CVSA International Roadcheck
The first step to learning how to avoid a violation is to know the most common issues found by inspectors during the last CVSA International Roadcheck in May 2022.
Combining the numbers from all three countries, almost a quarter of all vehicles (23.1 percent) had to be placed out of service by inspectors. Among drivers, inspectors ended up taking 6.4 percent off the road.
The following ranked as the Top 5 out of service violations across all three countries.
- Braking systems
- Tires
- Defective service brakes
- Lights
- Cargo securement
For drivers, the CVSA reported the following as the Top 5 violations that led inspectors to take drivers out of service.
- False logs
- Wrong class license
- Hours of Service violations
- Suspended license
- No medical card
For quick reference, these are the records required by inspectors during the CVSA International Roadcheck.
- Driver’s license
- Skill Performance Evaluation certificate
- Medical examiners certificate
- Motor carrier registration
- Driver’s HOS information
- Evidence of periodic inspection
- Vehicle inspection reports
- Shipping papers or bills of lading
- Driver’s daily vehicle inspection report
Telematics Can Help Fleets Pass CVSA Inspections in 2023
Telematics systems help fleet managers address all the issues raised by inspectors, including the most common reasons for them taking vehicles and drivers off the road. Telematics systems can help reduce the risk of CVSA violations by providing automated, consistent support in several critical areas.
Predictive Maintenance. Connected devices placed on vehicles send real-time data on engine performance, alerting fleet managers and drivers of potential problems before they lead to a breakdown on the road. Telematics systems also create automated maintenance schedules, keeping vehicles from missing any needed routine maintenance work.
Driver Vehicle Inspection Report. Drivers are key to success for fleets, but they also carry a lot of risk. As the CVSA International Roadcheck numbers show, many drivers do not have the proper documentation with them/ Some also fail to perform the needed routine inspections of their vehicle or files the proper reports. Automated telematics systems keep track of issues such as hours of service and reports needed for compliance. Fleets also use software systems to monitor any issues that may come up with an employee’s license, such as a moving violation. Taken together, these systems greatly reduce fleet risk.
Driver coaching. Automated systems provide in-cab alerts when drivers are low on Hours of Service, one of the most common violations found by CVSA inspectors. They also alert drivers if they take unnecessary and potentially dangerous risks, such as speeding, rapid cornering, and abrupt braking.
By putting telematics into place now, fleets can lower their risk of having vehicles or drivers removed from the road because of a CVSA International Roadcheck inspection. They also will increase fleet safety, better manage fleet risk, and improve the bottom line.
