WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has published its annual North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria guidelines, which spell out exactly constitutes an out-of-service violation.

The guide is used by enforcement officers throughout North America and is also available to fleet managers, owner/operators or anyone else who wants to be clear on what will put their vehicle out-of-service.

 “It is in the best interests of every driver and motor carrier to be familiar with the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria,” said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA’s interim executive director. “Knowing which commercial motor vehicle violations have been identified as being the most serious is helpful because it provides necessary focus in properly maintaining vehicles and it saves lives. It also helps prevent unnecessary delays and down time in transit as a result of having a driver or vehicle placed out-of-service.”

It’s a good time to review OOS criteria, with a new enforcement regime called CSA 2010 set to take effect this year.

“With full implementation of CSA 2010 activities on the horizon, such as the new Carrier Safety Measurement System, knowing the ‘Criteria’ in advance can assist a motor carrier ensure the accuracy of the roadside inspection data collected and contained within a motor carrier’s safety profile,” said Larry G. Woolum, regulatory affairs director of the Ohio Trucking Association and Chair of CVSA’s Associate Advisory Committee.

For more info on how to obtain the standard, visit www.cvsa.org.