Starting today, Tuesday, June 4, and running 72 hours straight, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and its members across the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be participating in Roadcheck 2013, the 26th annual enforcement and outreach campaign promoting commercial vehicle safety.

Approximately three times the typical daily number of inspections will be conducted during the campaign. This year, in addition to North American Standard Level I inspections, Roadcheck is focusing special enforcement attention on motorcoaches and buses as well as proper securement of cargo.

Inspectors will also hand out quick reference visor cards with information about the new Hours-of-Service requirements that take effect July 1.

About one in ten out-of-service violations issued during Roadcheck are for improper loading, also known as improper cargo securement. Drivers are responsible for the securement of the proper loading of the cargo they carry, so even if they don’t load the vehicle themselves, they need to be aware of the proper loading procedures and regulations for what they carry.

CVSA is holding two official kick-off events, one in the U.S. and one in Canada -- the first time it's held a Roadcheck launch event in Canada.

On June 4, the U.S. kick-off and media event for Roadcheck 2013 will take place outside of Washington, DC, in Landover, Maryland. FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro, CVSA President Mark Savage and representatives from the Maryland State Police and industry will be among those in attendance. The event will feature demonstrations of motorcoach inspections, as well as other special enforcement operations.

On the following day, June 5, officials from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, FMCSA, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and local law enforcement, as well as representatives from industry, will join CVSA Mark Savage in Niagara Falls, Ontario, for a second official media event for Roadcheck 2013. This event will also feature a demonstration of a motorcoach inspection.