OTTAWA, (July 6, 2004) — The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) has reported that some 78 per cent of vehicles inspected during this year’s international Roadcheck 2004 between June 8-10 have made the grade.

The blitz — conducted at random sites throughout North America — is coordinated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in concert with CCMTA member jurisdictions in Canada.

Over the three days, a total of 7,848 vehicles and drivers underwent full inspections for mechanical and driver fitness. Of those vehicles, 6,145 passed the rigorous inspection standards, as inspectors issued 8,290 new decals to trucks, trailers, and buses that were stopped across Canada.

An out-of-service condition can occur for infractions as simple as a rear signal light not working to the extreme of faulty steering or brakes — the most common infraction. Other defects include wheels, tires, frame and load security. In total, 1,703 trucks (21.7 %) and 236 drivers (3 %) were placed out of service for various safety defects and violations.

While slightly higher than the 20 per cent figure recorded over the last two years, the 21.7 per cent out-of-service rate for Roadcheck 2004 still continues a positive overall downward trend in the OOS rate over the last ten years, the CCMTA says. Drivers out-of-service in 2004 dropped slightly over last year.

Nova Scotia can boast to being the Canadian province with the best OOS average for both trucks (13.9 %) and drivers (0 %) — not one inspected was recorded-out-of service. Manitoba’s driver rate was almost as impressive, 1.0 per cent, while Saskatchewan had the second best truck average, with 14.1 per cent out of service.

The worst performing jurisdictions for out-of-service trucks, were New Brunswick (26.2 %); Yukon (26.1 %); and Ontario (23.8 %) — the province with the most vehicles inspected at 3,697. B.C. registered the worst OOS driver rate at 4.3 per cent — which is just slightly higher than the national average.