From June 3-5, the FMCSA and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and other safety organizations in Canada and Mexico, will begin the International Roadcheck, CVSA’s annual safety blitz. Apex Capital wants to make sure trucking companies and drivers are aware of these inspections. During this 72-hour period, 10,000 inspectors will be at 1,500 locations across the U.S. to perform roadside inspections of trucks and buses.
To prepare for inspections, truck drivers should review the CVSA Roadcheck checklist for drivers, available on their website, and pay special attention to brakes, coupling devices, fuel and exhaust systems, lighting, cargo suspension and tires, wheels, rims and hubs.
Here is a quick checklist of easy safety tips for truck drivers from the CVSA Website.
- Buckle up
- Pre-inspect your truck
- Obey speed limits and traffic signs
- Maintain a safe following distance
- Make only safe and necessary lane changes
- Avoid distracted driving
- Never drive under the influence
- Get enough sleep
2013 International Roadcheck Results
During the 2013 International Roadcheck, over 70,000 inspections were performed. Overdrive Magazine reported that Hours of Service and brake issues were the biggest issues in 2013. The inspection’s out-of-service results were:
49.6% from brake related issues
19.5% – brake adjustments
30.1% – brake system violations
22% for equipment issues
12.6% for light violations
10.1% for tires and wheels
4% for drivers
10.2% – disqualified drivers
5.2% – suspended licenses
51.8% – hours of service
13.2% – falsified log books
According to the CVSA, over 1 million Roadcheck inspections have been done, since its beginning in 1988.