CVSA RoadCheck 2021

CVSA Roadcheck 2021 has been set for May 4-6, 2021.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has set May 4-6 as the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck.

During the 72-hour enforcement blitz, commercial motor vehicle inspectors in jurisdictions throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct thousands of Level 1 DOT inspections on both commercial motor vehicles and drivers throughout North America. Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck in advance should make it a “non-event” for your fleet!

This year’s inspection focus will be on Hours of Service and Lighting.

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the lighting violation “lamps inoperable” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations 393.9) was the number one vehicle violation in fiscal 2020, accounting for approximately 12.24% of all vehicle violations discovered that year.

During last year’s International Roadcheck, investigators conducted over 50,000 vehicle and/or driver inspections. They found that the top driver out-of-service violation category in North America was hours of service, accounting for 34.7% of all driver out-of-service conditions.

Regarding vehicle maintenance, the overall Out-of-Service rate was 20.9%, with Brakes being the top vehicle violation. Lighting accounted for about 14% of the Out Of Service orders issued.

Avoiding Lighting Violations

Lighting and associated reflective sheeting violations present law enforcement officers with an easy target. If they see a truck or trailer with any light out, they know that the carrier is violating at least one FMCSA regulation.

To avoid attracting unwanted attention from inspectors and to increase the visibility of both the truck and trailer, drivers should visually inspect all lamps and areas of reflective sheeting daily. This will help ensure that any burnt or malfunctioning bulbs will be replaced as soon as possible. If a driver notes on their DVIR that they have a bulb out, then most inspectors will not cite a violation.

Consider having each driver carry a lamp tester and a few common bulbs for the types of units that you regularly run. If the driver is able to easily fix a bulb, then you can possibly avoid extra inspection attention.

If the lighting issue appears to be more serious, then the driver can typically tell by using the lamp tester. If a more serious issue is detected, have the driver inspect the 7 way harness for proper connection and for signs of possible corrosion.

Any serious lighting issues should be reported to the carrier’s maintenance and management teams as soon as possible. The affected unit should not be driven until further testing/repair is completed. Refer to 49 CFR Parts §393.11, 17, 24 and 25 for more information on the commercial vehicle lighting regulations.

Avoiding HOS Violations

What’s the key to keeping your Hours-of-Service BASIC scores in check?

This is a very tough question and unfortunately it doesn’t have an easy answer. Like so many other things in insurance (and in life), it really depends on different things.

A quick survey of any number of trucking companies will show you a very large HOS compliance spectrum. (In other words, some really appear to suck, some appear to have it held down and most are somewhere in between).

I can say that trucking companies with the most effective HOS compliance show their truck drivers that they care greatly about this critical compliance area.

Fleet owners should be regularly studying HOS reports from their ELD systems.

Additionally, HOS violations, Unidentified Driving Time, ELD Disconnects and Personal Conveyance Use should all be regularly tracked.

Drivers AND dispatchers who are found to be in violation of FMCSA regulations or company policy MUST be held accountable on a consistent basis. If this is done regularly, the HOS BASIC scores will take care of themselves!

CVSA Roadcheck 2021: Inspections

Inspectors will ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims, hubs and windshield wipers are compliant with regulations. Inspections of motorcoaches, passenger vans and other passenger-carrying vehicles also include emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments, and seating.

Inspectors will be looking for critical vehicle inspection item violations, outlined in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If such violations are found, the vehicle will be placed out of service, which means that vehicle cannot be operated until the identified out-of-service conditions have been corrected.

Vehicles that successfully pass inspection, without any critical vehicle inspection item violations found after a completed Level I or Level V Inspection, should receive a CVSA decal. In general, vehicles with a CVSA decal are not re-inspected during the three-month period during which the decal is valid. Instead, inspectors focus their efforts on vehicles without a valid CVSA decal.

Also during an inspection, inspectors will check the driver’s operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, seat belt usage, and for alcohol and/or drug impairment. A driver will be placed out of service if an inspector discovers driver-related out-of-service conditions.

CVSA Roadcheck 2021: COVID-19

Like last year, all law enforcement officers will conduct inspections following their departments’ health and safety protocols during CVSA RoadCheck 2021.

In addition, as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues, every effort will be made to get vaccine shipments to their destination, quickly and safely. COVID-19 vaccine shipments will not be held up for inspection, unless there is an obvious serious violation that is an imminent hazard.

The International Roadcheck enforcement blitz is a CVSA program with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and Mexico’s Ministry of Communications and Transportation and its National Guard.

If you have any questions about the upcoming CVSA Roadcheck Inspection blitz or any other safety or compliance issues, please give us a call at 1-855-211-5550.

Want to check out more information about the 2020 International Roadcheck Event? Click here!

My Safety Manager is a leading provider of fleet safety management and trucking compliance services for fleets of all sizes!

Our specialized safety management solutions help deliver results—safe drivers out on the road who are staying compliant with FMCSA regulations.

We work with you to create customized solutions that meet your unique needs, taking what’s typically far too much work off your plate so you have more time to grow your business!