During the latest International Roadcheck held from May 14-16, enforcement officers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico carried out 48,761 inspections of commercial vehicles. This event, organized by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), uncovered significant compliance issues with 13,567 vehicle-related, 2,714 driver-related, and 163 hazardous materials (HM/DG) violations.
U.S. Inspection Highlights
In the United States alone, CVSA-certified inspectors conducted 42,332 inspections, identifying 11,675 vehicle violations, 2,619 driver violations, and 140 hazmat infractions. The inspections resulted in 7,930 vehicles (23.2%) and 2,151 drivers (5.1%) being taken out of service. The most common vehicle violation was related to faulty brakes, tallying up to 3,093 cases, while the primary driver violation involved hours of service, with 845 instances recorded. Loading issues led the hazmat violations at 60 entries.
Special Focus Areas
This year’s Roadcheck placed particular emphasis on certain vehicle and driver aspects. The vehicle checks focused on tractor protection systems, covering components like the tractor protection valve and the anti-bleed-back valve. These systems are critical as they secure the tractor’s air supply, preventing air loss when not connected to a trailer or in case of trailer detachment. A total of 564 violations related to these systems were found.
The driver checks targeted alcohol and controlled-substance possession, leading to 78 drug-related and 26 alcohol-related out-of-service violations across North America. Additionally, 63 U.S. drivers were found operating vehicles despite being listed in the FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, which tracks drivers who violate substance regulations. Another 535 violations were issued for not using safety belts.
Hazardous Materials Violations
Across North America, there were 163 out-of-service violations related to hazardous materials during the 72-hour inspection event, with loading being the most common issue.
These findings underscore the ongoing need for rigorous safety inspections and adherence to regulations to ensure the safety and compliance of commercial motor vehicle operations.
Source: Truckers News
