The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is gearing up for the 18th annual North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) in Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 2-8.


CVSA stresses that the event is more than a competition; it's an opportunity to get a snapshot of the current roadside inspection environment, as well as a forum to evaluate both successes and areas for improvement. In addition, the international event also develops future leaders, strengthens the industry and enforcement partnerships, and promotes camaraderie between inspectors, jurisdictions, and countries.

"Commercial vehicle inspectors have a huge responsibility in ensuring that the large trucks and buses that travel down roads alongside passenger vehicles are doing so safely by checking a vehicle's brakes, tires, tiedowns, driver's record of duty status as well as other critical items while conducting an inspection," said Buzzy France, CVSA's president.

"FMCSA congratulates all of the dedicated and skilled commercial motor vehicle inspectors competing this year in Columbus," said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. "It is only through their day in and day out attention to detail that we set the bar high to meet our safety goals and reduce deaths and injuries on our roadways."

This year there are six candidates from Canada, three from Mexico and 47 from the U.S. The theme of NAIC 2010 is 'Education, Performance, Uniformity, and Partnerships.'

NAIC's purpose is to recognize the inspector for demonstrating inspector excellence. NAIC contestants are evaluated in the following categories: North American Standard Level I Inspection; North American Standard Level I Inspection Procedures; North American Standard HazMat/Transportation of Dangerous Goods Inspection; North American Standard Cargo Tank/Other Bulk Packagings Inspection; North American Standard Level V Passenger Vehicle (Motorcoach) Inspection; Personal Interview; and North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Exam.