This year's International Roadcheck will take place between May 17-19, 2022 and focus on wheel ends.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) organizes an annual International Roadcheck, which they define as "a 72-hour high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection" enforcement and educational initiative across North America.
Last year, there were 40,000 inspections throughout the three inspection days. There were 19,786 Level I Inspections in the U.S. specifically, resulting in 4,136 vehicles and 1,083 driver out-of-service orders.
Whether you have your authority or are leased onto another, it's a critical time for Owner-Operators. With a good attitude and proper preparation, you can treat the days of International Roadcheck as you would any other on the road - ones in which you prioritize the safety and well-being of yourself and others.
Many carriers, like TrueNorth, give bonuses for clean inspections. Let's look at what to expect during International Roadcheck and six proactive steps you can take to prepare and roll through it with confidence, ease, and did we mention - extra cash!?
What to Expect
Between May 17-19, 2022, CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct North American Standard Inspections on all commercial vehicles, which of course, includes trucks. Throughout the three days, vehicle, driver, and cargo inspections take place all over roadways - from roadsides to weigh and inspection stations to temporary inspection sites.
You may receive any level of inspection during International Roadcheck. Level I is the most comprehensive and consists of reviewing the driver’s paperwork and a complete inspection of the vehicle. It’s a process that can take up to 60 minutes to complete. The following is subject to inspection:
Paperwork:
- Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
- Medical Examiner's Certificate
- Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate (if applicable)
- Alcohol and drugs
- Driver's record of duty status
- Hours of service
- Vehicle inspection report(s)
Physical:
- Seat belt
- Brake systems
- Cargo securement
- Coupling devices
- Driveline/driveshaft
- Electrical cables and systems in engine and battery compartments
- Exhaust systems
- Frames
- Fuel systems
- Lighting devices (headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and lamps/flags on projecting loads)
- Steering mechanisms
- Suspensions
- Tires
- Van and open-top trailer bodies
- Wheels, rims and hubs
- Windshield wipers
Level II requires the paperwork portion of the Level 1 plus a visual (walk-around) of the equipment and Level III is a driver-only (paperwork) inspection.
You will likely receive a CVSA decal for your vehicle if you pass an inspection. The decal is valid for three months and signals to inspectors that your vehicle and driver passed the inspection, reducing the likelihood that you are subjected to another while it's valid, unless a violation occurs.
Like any roadside inspection, if you receive any violations during your inspection, you receive points that stay on both your carrier’s CSA score and your individual PSP score. You may receive an out-of-service (OOS) order for any critical violations found, which prevents you from operating as the driver or vehicle until you resolve the violation(s).
Focus on Wheel Ends
While all vehicle, driver, and cargo components are subject to inspection, this year's wheel ends are a priority due to their frequency of violations. Wheel separations are a common cause of accidents. In years past, wheel ends violations have accounted for roughly one-quarter of vehicle out-of-service (OOS) violations during International Roadcheck.
This year, we can reduce the high safety risk that wheel end failures pose by bringing wheel ends into focus.
In particular, the wheel-end inspection includes "wheels and rims, wheel fasteners (hub and lug nuts), wheel seals and leaks, and tires (tread depth, condition, inflation, leaks, in contact with the vehicle)."
Your hubs must all be in good working condition to prevent damage such as a leak, where oil can move around the wheels, get into braking components, and even catch on fire.
To learn more about wheel ends, this 1-minute video is for you.
How to Prepare
Whether you're leased onto a carrier or running your own authority, give yourself enough runway to adequately prepare for International Roadcheck. Below is a checklist you can follow to do everything possible for a clean inspection.
1. Familiarize Yourself with Inspections
Staying aware of what inspectors are looking for and what will be required of you as the Owner-Operator is the first step. The CVSA's North American Standard Roadside Inspection Vehicle Cheat Sheet is a useful guide to what to expect during the inspection. In addition, our Owner-Operators Only article, CVSA Inspections: Understanding and Preparing for Them, walks you through what exactly is included in each level - within both the paperwork and physical categories.
2. Ensure Up-to-date Maintenance
If your truck or trucks undergo regular maintenance by qualified technicians, you're on your way to setting yourself up for success to pass an inspection. If you have not kept up with regular maintenance, getting your truck to a shop as quickly as possible is important. One way to take your preparation to the next level and ensure everything is in full working condition is to get a complete Federal Annual DOT inspection from a reputable vendor for both the truck and the trailer.
Remind technicians and mechanics to explain what inspectors look for and pay particular attention to wheel ends for loose fasteners, stretched studs, cracks, proper torque of fasteners, axle seals for leaks, tire inflation, and tread depth, cuts, or other damage to tires.
Having a fresh inspection sticker on both pieces of equipment doesn't guarantee anything, but it can help.
3. Be Diligent about Pre- and Post-Trip Inspections
Even with regular maintenance, a critical violation could occur any day. The requirement to complete the daily pre- and post-trip inspections is essential. While many drivers rush through it or even fail to do it, keeping up with these daily inspections can help reveal the discovery of potential safety issues or mechanical problems that could prevent you from having a bad inspection or worse, a dangerous event on the road.
Want a refresher on how to do your pre-trip? Watch this ultimate video guide!
4. Pay Attention to Presentation
It always helps when your equipment is fresh and clean. Pay extra for the tire shine at the Blue Beacon. Replace faded/torn reflective tape, lug nut covers, mudflaps, etc. Invest in some brake cleaner and clean up the pads so the original color and any other critical brake parts show through. Double-check your permit book to be sure everything is current and you have a neat and orderly permit book to present if needed (including required supplementary ELD items). Make sure you look professional and presentable. While these things do not guarantee you will pass the inspection, they may increase your chances.
5. Expect to be Inspected
You have a high chance of being inspected during International Roadcheck. Don't assume that it won’t happen to you. Always stay diligent, organized, and prepared for the greatest chance of passing.
6. Bring a Positive Attitude and a Smile
It’s important to remember that while inspectors fulfill their responsibility to inspect, they're also human. And just as you would expect anyone to treat you with dignity and respect, they expect the same of you. A positive attitude and a smile go a long way.
Why Inspections Matter
Every carrier with a Department of Transportation (DOT) number receives an ongoing and updated safety score as part of the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program. Essentially, your CSA score is indicative of your business success as a carrier, impacting the way drivers, inspectors, shippers, receivers, brokers, and more, interact with you.
Through a ranking system called Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASIC) scores, each fleet receives scores for 7 categories every month: Unsafe Driving, Driver Fitness, Hours-of-service Compliance, Vehicle Maintenance, Controlled Substances, Crash Indicator, and Hazardous Materials Compliance. With any inspection, you're at risk of receiving a violation, which adds points to your score. The fewer points you have, the better. And because there is only one score per fleet, within each BASIC category, each driver’s individual actions or inactions impact the whole. We take an in-depth look at this concept in our article Why CSA Scores Should Be Treated Like a Team Sport.
How do CSAs scores impact International Roadcheck? Carriers with higher (poorer) scores are subject to increased roadside inspections, presenting an additional risk to the health of your business through delays and limited opportunities.
Final Thoughts
International Roadcheck does not have to feel like a burden but rather an opportunity for increased safety and wellbeing on our roadways. As an Owner-Operator, you work diligently on the success of your business, including every safety measure.
International Roadcheck provides an opportunity to prove you're following all possible safety protocols, share pride and joy in your equipment, and earn some extra money through a bonus. Remember, Roadcheck is not just enforcement; it's an educational tool for improvement - for the safety and wellbeing of all.
We are confident that you can and will pass inspections with flying colors. And we can't wait to celebrate with you once you do!
Other relevant articles:
DVIR: Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Inspections