Record Low Out-of-Service Numbers Hit During Roadcheck

GREENBELT, MD — The annual North American-wide truck inspection blitz held this past summer produced the lowest out-of-service rates on record when it comes to the toughest vehicle and driver inspections.

According to numbers released Tuesday by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, which organizes the annual International Roadcheck, there were 69,472 total truck and bus inspections June 2-4. Of these, 44,989 of were the North American Standard Level I Inspections, which is the most thorough roadside inspection that includes a 37-step procedure involving an examination of both the driver’s record of duty status and the safety of the vehicle.

Of the Level I Inspections, inspectors found 1,623 or 3.6 percent of drivers, and 9,732, or 21.6 percent of vehicles with out-of-service (OOS) violations, historically the lowest rates for which CVSA has data, going back to 1991.

Of all inspections that included drivers: 95.2 percent had no OOS violations, while 4.8 percent were placed OOS, the same rate as during the 2014 Roadcheck. Also, 98.5 percent of drivers carrying hazardous materials had no OOS violations, while 1.5 percent were placed OOS. That compares to a 3.0 percent OOS rate in 2014.

During International Roadcheck 2015 a special emphasis was placed on reminding carriers about and enforcing regulations on proper load securement. During the event, inspectors issued 2,439 violations for load securement.

The leading load securement violations, by number of violations issued were: (1) failure to prevent shifting/loss of load; (2) failure to secure truck equipment (tarps, dunnage, doors, tailgates, spare tires); (3) damaged tie downs (typically unacceptable wear on chain or cuts and tears on web straps); (4) insufficient tie downs; and (5) loose tie downs.

Of all of the inspections conducted, officers also handed out 777 tickets for seatbelt violations.

Vehicle results for 2015 included:

  • All inspections that included vehicles: 82.5 percent of vehicles had no OOS violations, and 17.5 percent were placed OOS. (18.7 percent were OOS in 2014).
  • Level I inspections: 78.4 percent of vehicles had no OOS violations, and 21.6 percent were placed OOS. (23.0 percent were OOS in 2014).
  • HazMat inspections: 88.5 percent of vehicles carrying HM had no OOS violations, and 11.5 percent were placed OOS. (16.0 percent were OOS in 2014).

“CVSA’s International Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected, on average, every minute, over three days,” said CVSA Acting Executive Director Collin B. Mooney.

Since its inception in 1988, International Roadcheck inspections have numbered more than 1.4 million, resulting in an estimated 334 lives saved and 6,134 injuries avoided, according to CVSA.

The commercial vehicle safety-enforcement organization puts the event together with participation by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation in Mexico.

More Roadcheck 2015 results are available on the CVSA website.


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