Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021:
Roadcheck set for early May with focus on lights, drivers' hours
The annual 72-hour International Roadcheck inspection blitz will be held May 4-6 with an added focus on lighting and hours of service, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced Tuesday.
Inspectors will primarily conduct full North American Standard Level I inspections, which cover the entirety of the truck and the driver’s records.
CVSA inspectors will ensure the vehicle’s brake systems, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline/driveshaft components, driver’s seat, exhaust systems, frames, fuel systems, lighting devices, steering mechanisms, suspensions, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels, rims, hubs and windshield wipers are compliant with regulations.
Inspectors will check the driver’s operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, seat belt usage, and for alcohol and/or drug impairment. A driver will be placed out of service if an inspector discovers driver-related out-of-service conditions.
The two areas CVSA is asking inspectors to focus on this year – lighting for vehicles and hours of service for drivers – are among the top violations each year. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the “lamps inoperable” lighting violations was the number one vehicle violation in fiscal 2020, accounting for approximately 12.24% of all vehicle violations discovered that year. And during last year’s Roadcheck inspection spree, the top driver out-of-service condition was hours of service, accounting for nearly 35% of all driver OOS violations.
The 2020 International Roadcheck, which was delayed until September due to COVID-19, resulted in more than 15,000 trucks and drivers being placed out-of-service.
