The annual North American wide Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) International Roadcheck will take place from June 4th – 6th. The 72-hour blitz is the largest targeted enforcement program in the world with an average of 17 trucks and buses being inspected every minute in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Since beginning in 1998, more than 1.6 million vehicles have been inspected.
During the roadside check, inspectors will be focused on conducting the North American Standard Level 1 inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both the commercial motor vehicles and drivers. Inspectors can also choose to conduct the Level 2 walkaround driver/vehicle inspections, Level 3 driver/credential/administrative inspection or Level 5 vehicle-only inspection. Additionally each year, International Roadcheck places a special emphasis on a specific category of violations. This year their attention will be centred on steering and suspension systems.
“Steering and suspension are safety critical systems for any commercial motor vehicle,” says CVSA President Jay Thompson. “Not only do they support the heavy loads carried by trucks and buses, but they also help maintain stability and control under acceleration and braking, keeping the vehicle safely on the road. Furthermore, they keep tires in alignment, reducing chances of uneven tire wear and possible tire failure, and they maximize the contact between the tires and the road to provide steering stability and good handling.”
According to the CVSA, last year’s examination took 11,910 vehicles off the road for out-of-service violations in the U.S. and Canada. Roughly two percent, or 262 units. were out-of-service (OOS) for steering. The top three OOS violations were for braking systems (28.4%), tires and wheels (19.1%) and brake adjustment (16.3%). Equipment will be placed out-of-service if conditions fail to meet the North American Standard OOS criteria.
Chief Thompson added, “It’s important to remember that the same inspections happen every day of the year. We publicly announce the dates of this three-day enforcement and awareness initiative in advance because we want all vehicles on our roadways to be safe and compliant.”
For more information, please visit the CVSA’s website at: https://cvsa.org/inspections/inspections/all-inspection-levels/
Photo Credit: Halton Regional Police
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