CVSA’s International Roadcheck 2019: Are You Ready?

From June 4-6, the CVSA’s International Roadcheck program will inspect 17 commercial vehicles every minute over the course of 72 hours across North America. During International Roadcheck, certified inspectors will conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. Inspectors may also opt to conduct the Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection, Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection or Level V Vehicle-Only Inspection. Are you, your drivers, and your trucks prepared?

Steering Components and Suspension Systems

Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a specific category of violations. This year’s focus is on steering and suspension systems.

The vehicle inspection will include checking items such as: brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft, exhaust systems; frames, fuel systems, lighting devices steering mechanisms, suspensions and tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims and hubs.

Additional items on buses, motorcoaches, passenger vans or other passenger-carrying vehicles include emergency exits, electrical cables and systems in engine and battery compartments, and seating (temporary and aisle seats).

Signs Your Steering and Suspension May Be Not Be Compliant

It’s important to remember that, while this is simply a three-day enforcement initiative, inspections are conducted 365 days a year. The purpose of all these events is to ensure all vehicles on the roads are safe and compliant. Here are some things to be aware of when it comes to steering and suspension safety:

• Uneven tire wear
• Swaying, shaking, or vibrations while driving
• Problems handling bumps at low speeds
• The vehicle wandering, pulling to one side
• Not sitting level when parked
• Knocking or squealing sounds during turns
• Unusual noise when turning, applying the brakes, accelerating or driving over bumps

What Drivers Need To Have Ready

All drivers will be required to provide their commercial driver’s license, health card, shipping documents, registration, insurance, any applicable lease agreement, and hazmat paperwork. Drivers also need to be prepared to retrieve their current day’s electronic log as well as the logs for the previous seven days. As per usual, inspectors will also check drivers for seat belt usage, sickness, fatigue and apparent alcohol and/or drug impairment.

If no critical vehicle inspection item violations are found during a Level I or Level V Inspection, a CVSA decal will be applied to the vehicle, indicating that the vehicle has successfully passed a decal-eligible inspection conducted by a CVSA-certified inspector.

The purpose of all these types of CVSA events is to ensure vehicles on the roads are safe and compliant. Last year’s International Roadcheck focused on hours-of-service violations, due to the new, at the time, electronic logging device mandate. Any thoughts on what next year’s violations focus will be?