International Roadcheck is an annual three-day event when CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance, enforcement, and educational initiatives targeting various motor carrier, vehicle, and driver safety elements. It is the most extensive targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles worldwide, inspecting more than 1.8 million vehicles since 1988.
The next International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 16-18, 2023.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced May 16-18 as this year’s International Roadcheck. International Roadcheck is a high-visibility, high-volume 72-hour inspection and enforcement event where CVSA-certified inspectors in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. will conduct inspections of commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, designated inspection areas, and along roadways.
This year, inspectors will focus on anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and cargo securement to highlight the importance of vehicle safety.
- ABS violations are not out-of-service violations; however, the anti-lock braking system is critical in reducing collisions. A properly functioning ABS will prevent wheels from locking up or skidding, allowing a driver to maintain vehicle control while braking. Drivers must observe the diagnostic check during pre-and post-trip inspections to ensure the ABS functions appropriately. ABS lamps that fail to illuminate during the diagnostic check or lamps that remain illuminated while in transit indicate an ABS malfunction that must be repaired.
- Improper or inadequate cargo securement accounted for 10.6% of all vehicle out-of-service violations discovered during last year’s International Roadcheck. Past International Roadcheck data routinely found cargo securement violations in the top five of vehicle out-of-service violations. Improper cargo securement poses a severe risk to drivers and other motorists and may adversely affect the vehicle’s maneuverability. Drivers should verify proper securement and inspect tie-downs during their pre-and post-trip inspections and periodically during their trip to ensure the cargo remains secure.
How should shippers, carriers, and brokers prepare for RoadCheck Week?
The correct answer is that they shouldn’t. Brake safety and load securement are everyday events – trucks and trailers should always have perfectly working brakes, and loads must be secured every single trip. CVSA’s annual high-volume, high-visibility inspection and enforcement initiative will see CVSA-certified inspectors posted at weigh stations and designated inspection sites in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
For drivers, this means they need to be prepared well in advance. During Roadcheck Week, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure examining driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. The detailed list can be found here.
Figure 1: 2022 Roadcheck Week Results – Top Five Out-of-Service Violations
