WASHINGTON — The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance released its annual updated American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria for 2010.

The updated published OOSC, which is a big component of the North American Standard Inspection Program, becomes effective throughout North America agencies every April 1 and is used by certified state, provincial, territorial, and federal law enforcement personnel in identifying Critical Vehicle Inspection Item violations following a roadside inspection.

Officers finding these out-of-service violations can prohibit driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified period of time or until the defective condition is corrected.

"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."

Roadside inspection results are used in part to identify motor carriers that present a high degree of risk to the motoring public. As a result, the data collected helps in determining which transportation companies will be selected for review under FMCSA’s new Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) initiative.

"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.

"As a result," adds CVSA’s President Buzzy France, "the importance of this issue cannot be understated."