Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026:
CVSA issued nearly 700 OOS viols in unannounced hazmat blitz
A five-day hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) inspection blitz earlier this summer resulted in a 13.5% vehicle out-of-service rate in the U.S. and Canada.
During the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s unannounced HM/DG inspection and compliance enforcement initiative, which took place June 8-12, inspectors affixed 1,187 CVSA decals to 794 power units and 393 trailers for having no critical vehicle or specification cargo tank violations.
On the other hand, out of 4,122 total HM inspections conducted in the U.S., 500 (12.1%) vehicles were placed out of service. And out of the 924 total DG inspections completed in Canada, 183 (19.8%) of those vehicles were placed out of service. The total number of vehicles placed out of service was 683, a 13.5% total out-of-service rate.
The biggest culprit for OOS violations during the blitz was cargo securement violations. Inspectors identified 128 OOS cargo securement violations that could result in the cargo/goods/materials moving in a manner that would cause damage to the package resulting in leaking, spilling, etc.
Another big violation category that led to OOS violations was label, placarding and marking violations, which involve failing to accurately communicate hazards under the U.S. Hazardous Materials (HM) regulations and Canada’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) regulations. There were 197 total placard violations, 55 of which were of the OOS variety. Inspectors also found 64 total marking violations, 20 of which were OOS. There were also 32 label violations identified.
Inspectors also identified 29 OOS HM/DG package integrity (leaking) violations. Leaking hazardous materials/dangerous goods pose a significant threat to human health and safety, property, and the environment, CVSA said.
Inspectors in the U.S. also 73 emergency response information violations. Emergency response information details the specific actions and information needed to address a hazmat release, including containment and mitigation. Emergency response documentation is mandated for specific hazardous materials and quantities.
Other violations issued during the week-long effort:
- 265 shipping paper violations, of which 57 (21.5%) were out-of-service violations
- 47 HM registration violations
- 8 HM safety permit violations
- 16 HM endorsement violations
Full results to CVSA’s unannounced HM/DG enforcement effort can be found here.
FMCSA extends wildfire HOS relief on the Plains
Haulers providing direct assistance to the ongoing wildfire emergency in Nebraska have been granted another month of hours-of-service relief.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration granted a request from state officials to extend the relief through Oct. 11 due to ongoing emergency conditions. The emergency declaration has been in place since it was first issued by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen in March.
Under terms of the waiver, motor carriers and drivers providing direct assistance to the emergency in the State of Nebraska are granted emergency relief from 49 CFR 395.3, maximum driving time for property-carrying vehicles. The relief applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the emergency in Nebraska.
The waiver is in effect until the end of the emergency, or through Oct. 11, whichever is sooner.
