Brake System Problems Again Top Roadcheck OOS Violations

During the 72-hour International Roadcheck inspection blitz in May, inspectors put 19% of commercial vehicles inspected out of service for serious safety violations, meaning those trucks were not allowed back on the road until those violations had been corrected. Roadcheck also saw 5.5% of the commercial vehicle drivers put out of service.

More than 59,000 commercial motor vehicles were inspected in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 72-hour International Roadcheck inspection and enforcement initiative May 16-18.

• There were 17,479 vehicle out-of-service violations in total, putting 11,270 commercial motor vehicles out of service.
• There were 5,280 driver out-of-service violations in total, with 3,256 put out of service.

Violations that will cause a vehicle or driver to be put out of service are identified in the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.

In comparison, last year during 2022 Roadcheck, CVSA-certified inspectors conducted 59,026 inspections and placed 12,456 commercial motor vehicles and 3,714 commercial motor vehicle drivers out of service.

A total of 116,669 violations were identified; this number includes both out-of-service violations and other violations.

CVSA pointed out that 81% of the commercial motor vehicles and 94.5% of the commercial motor vehicle drivers inspected did not have any out-of-service violations.

Commercial motor vehicles without any critical vehicle inspection violations are eligible to receive a CVSA decal. During this year’s International Roadcheck, decals were applied to 14,032 power units, 5,814 trailers and 305 motorcoaches/buses, for a total of 20,151 decals throughout North America.

ABS and Cargo Securement Violations

Each year, CVSA highlights certain aspects of the roadside inspection. This year, inspectors focused on antilock braking systems and cargo securement.

There were 2,975 cargo securement violations and 4,127 ABS violations. Four were discovered on motorcoaches, 1,426 on power units, and 2,697 on trailers.

CVSA notes that not all cargo securement violations are out-of-service violations. The cargo securement total noted above is for all cargo securement violations – out-of-service and non-out-of-service violations combined. The cargo securement violations in table 1 are out-of-service cargo securement violations only. In addition, ABS violations are not out-of-service violations. 

Close to 1,000 (949) safety belt violations were issued during this year’s International Roadcheck, meaning 1.6% of commercial motor vehicle drivers inspected were not wearing their safety belt.

Inspectors also checked commercial motor vehicles carrying hazardous materials/dangerous goods. During Roadcheck, 2,853 HM/DG inspections were performed, and inspectors discovered 236 HM/DG-related out-of-service violations.

U.S. Roadcheck Inspection Results

While Roadcheck is held across North America, U.S. inspections make up the lion’s share. In the U.S., inspectors conducted 53,847 Level I, II and III Inspections.

• The vehicle out-of-service rate was 19.3%, and the driver out-of-service rate was 5.8%.
• There were 15,932 vehicle, 5,020 driver and 205 hazmat out-of-service violations.
• The top vehicle out-of-service violation was for brake systems – nearly 25% of OOS violations.
• The top driver out-of-service violation was hours of service — more than 39% of OOS violations.
• The top hazmat out-of-service violation was for loading.
• There were 2,798 cargo securement violations.
• ABS violations were discovered on 1,264 power units, 2,428 trailers and four buses.
• Inspectors issued 931 safety belt violations.
• Inspectors placed CVSA decals on 12,284 power units, 4,681 trailers and 305 motorcoaches/buses, for a total of 17,270 decals.