Here’s a friendly reminder to all drivers: The largest commercial motor vehicle inspection blitz in the world is just over a week away!
Conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), International Roadcheck is a 72-hour enforcement blitz performed across North America. Over the course of three days, approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified inspectors will be stationed at 1,500 inspections sites.
While the majority of inspections are Level I inspections which check all aspects of a CMV, every year Roadcheck puts special emphasis on a specific safety aspect. This year’s focus is proper cargo securement. To help make sure drivers are up to speed on current cargo securement best practices, the CVSA published a 1-page flyer which you can view here.
Last year, 62,796 inspections were performed in just 72 hours. But while a massive number of inspections are performed, they don’t skimp on the details. Last year 21.5% of vehicles and 3.4% of drivers were placed out of service after a Level I inspection during Roadcheck.
This year’s International Roadcheck will be held from June 6th through June 8th, so be ready!
Source: overdrive, truckersreport
Shannon says
Shame on our Government for preying on hard working individuals. I think it’s more about money than safety. When are the drivers going to unite and stop taking the abuse in this industry?
Wesley Howard says
I agree Shannon. ..its all about $$$$ that’s how they pay for their police interceptors and snazzy new paint jobs…which here in KY at least, are becoming VERY military esque. It’s disturbing. ..
Jesse says
Agreed!
Clay says
Never, unfortunately. The problem is there are to many drivers that are ok with what’s going on and just happy to collect a paycheck. And the drivers that do want something done have to many opinions on what needs changed and not willing to sacrifice if they don’t get what they want specifically. And the government or media or whoever it is has convinced lots of us working class workers that unions are bad for the country! Which is absolutely crazy!
Brett Williams says
never. to many yes men in the industry.
Dex says
Amen to that !
Pedie says
It is not ALL about the money! Come down to far south Texas or Arizona and see for yourself what kind of truck some are driving. I have seen drive tires on steer position, tires that have not a stitch of tread on them. Duct tape holding parts on, small car mirrors in place of broken truck mirrors.
Azzitude says
it is a money grab but, I have been seeing some really stupid drivers lately
48ft Steel Bars with all of 6 straps on the whole load comes to mind
Brandon says
Well, if it was 2 in the first 5 feet, then one for every ten foot or fraction thereof, then in the eyes of the cvsa folks that’s plenty. If it was 48′, then sounds legal. Unless the weight of the load wasn’t covered by at least 50 percent of its weight in straps.
Jesse says
Agreed!
Merrill D Hodgden says
A fee years ago I saw 2 flatness pulled over, after one of them had lost a 30,000# coil! It seems that the coils on both trailers only had 2 chains securing them and tarps to conceal the lack of retirement!
Those drivers, and others like them, put everyone at risk!
sam e Mitchell says
They WON’T unite, because of new drivers like Prime,CREngland, JBHunt, Schnieder, and Steven’s and the rest of the Green Horn drivers are afraid they might loose their job!!!! JBHunt ALWAYS crossed the line years ago, they’ll sit for 3 or 4 days without pay waiting on a load, but won’t stick together and strike, Just Sayin, been trucking 30 plus years, truckdrivers don’t stick together
Slo Poke says
I drive for Prime and only been out here 10 1/2yrs and all i heard you more seasoned drivers do is bitch and moan and talk about what new drivers are doing and all i’ve seen is vets in wrecks and we should shrike, well when soneone gets the balls to do so i’m in
Darnell says
And because of websites like Truckingtruth.com that are teaching the next generation of drivers to bend over and take whatever crappy treatment those Megas give them.
Snow Walker says
That’s because of all the independent owner ops that are barely making enough to make their truck payments. I knew many of those boys. Hell, most of them can’t even afford to buy new brake shoes for their rigs. It’s a dog eat dog industry out there.
Rainman says
I don’t have a truck payment nor will I own a newer truck. So yes i properly maintain my equipment and have no issues with getting inspected. The guys that have issues need to look at who they get there freight from.
Jesse says
I’ll be staying home! Trucking isn’t what it once was safety isn’t the focus here either. Its about money look at other countries safety issues and if our government truly cared about safety then cell phones and other electronic device’s would be outlawed. Everyone is fiddling with there cell phones including truck drivers. I’M A 20 YEAR VETERAN DRIVER. I guess we all must get used to the hired gun cracking down on us. It truly is what it is.
Howard Young says
Its a shame that we keep this country supplied with the things it needs to function and they take a crap on us every chance they get . The fuel is outrageous, they screw with us around every turn with all these inspections they drive up prices on everything wich make it hard for the honest hard-working man
Fozzy says
How much does damaged property and freight dumped over in the ditch drive up costs? There was a time when honest working men would do the entire job without being a sniviling victim.
troy says
Nice 3 day vacation….
WM says
Exactly, I’m taking 3 days off. ….ijs
rigo says
that’s wht I said I did the same thing last year stayed home went to Chicago for couple days pass the scales full of trucks ,just said bye bye..
Jay says
It’s good for saftey of public road ways but is this the real intention?
Truck drivers work hard yet are treated like trash and deserve better from everyone including law inforcement. And Public stop your baby pouting road rage arround Truckers because ultimately you will loose. Good day.
Brett Williams says
truck drivers are trash. you ever see the on and off ramps of your roadways? ever been into a truck stop parking lot? we deserve everything they dish to us. we created this monster.
MrNA says
Good point Brett. That’s why I avoid trashy truck stops and roadside. It is also harder to say something to offenders but it needs doing. And thank and acknowledge the numerous clean stops and operators.
Craig says
Maybe you need to add lazy to your trash description but not all are trash. Next time you see a driver pitch his trash to the ground pick it up and sling it up on the hood of their truck or call local authorities and get them a nice reminder fine . No there are not enough trash receptacles but no excuse . As for the 72 hour blitz put on your professional driver cap and show others how it’s done. Slow down take the revenue hit and let them waste their time.
M.B says
I agree craig. All these drivers talking about taking the days off. Only reason is,because they are the problems on the road in the first place. I have no problem with this because i do my job. Sucks these days to be a lazy wheel holder.
Don Stanfield says
I been driving longer then you been alive probably.so drives are trash? Tell you what the next time go to the store to get food drinks clothes or anything thing else and especially when you set down to the table to eat I sure hope you remember that that old trashy truck that brought it to you!! Have a blessed day. Don
Tom says
The annual DOT cash grab. Great time to take your thirty-four hour reset…twice…plus a little extra. You can never be too rested.
Jay says
I-90 is closed this morning because a truck lost its load of timber. Inspect away!
Tim Weber says
This blitz they do every year is about safety. Not money. If your doing your job correctly, and securing your load, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. I don’t see drivers crawling under their rigs to check brakes. Most of the time, I see drivers wake up, get their coffee, jump in the seat and leave. Don’t check Anything?? Tires, lights, fifth wheel?? Come on.. I’m all for the blitz. There might be something that I missed. I want to be safe and go home. Quit crying, do your job properly and you won’t have anything to be concerned about.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some DOT Officers who can be a-holes. Their human too and have bad days.
Jon McLaughlin says
Tim Weber, I agree with you. I have seen many steering wheel holders out of the “Puppy Mills of Trucking” just get up, get a drink and a breakfast sandwich or such, and jump back into their truck and drive away. No pre-trip, not even a walk around. One day I saw one with a shredded trailer tire drive out, 15 minutes later I passed him on the roadside with a DOT officer appearing to be doing a Level 1 inspection. I may not always do a “FULL” inspection, but it is done more times than not. Wonder if these kids even know what to look for and check under the hood???
Brian Ramsey says
I agree on safety but my experience isn’t that they are worried about safety as much as finding something to ticket.
Ed says
It’s been my experience in the twenty five years that I’ve been in trucking, that it’s the questionable companies and drivers who worry about inspections. Bad drivers and companies wrote the laws and regulations. The DOT just signs them.
Ray says
I see alot of people in trucking bitching everyday but I never see any of them taking action and organizing. I blame the drivers.
Dazzling Piazza says
Ray that was tried back in the early 70’s but maybe that was before your time. Back then CB Radio was only 23 channels and no one was running high powered linears. Now almost every OTR truck has one with annoying echo boxes and other crap.
Yes believe it or not there are transport companies that are union. They may not be your cup of tea but they pay well and have benefits.
However there are major players out there who just like Walmart will fire your ass if they got wind of someone organizing. In both cases if you got fired they have more people willing to replace you.
Alexander Disner says
Who pays for the trucker’s time?
Fozzy says
For?
Mr. Curmudgeon says
Inspect away. Flatbed with strap trailing behind like a streamer. Reefer with rear wheels locked. Broken brake shoes, three inch free play in brake pushrods, loose s-cam shaft support bracket bolts, trailer airlines rubbed almost all the way through on frame components, and dry rot cracks on tire sidewalls in trailers im pretripping. Too many drivers don’t give a darn about their own, or anyone elses safety. Not all, but too many… So, inspect away. If you pretrip, thank you. My family thanks you as well.
Tired of the road says
Fellow truck drivers it’s time to get out..I’m a seasoned lowboy driver who drives mainly local. I can’t stand it anymore.. between the four wheelers and the DOT . Who needs it anymore? My pay is good but I’d rather operate a machine for more. With no bs.
Dazzling Piazza says
Forget about CMV’s. They have been the target of the DOT for years.
What needs to be done is have a Roadcheck Inspection Blitz for 4 wheelers. There are many states that only have emission inspections but not a safety inspection. Some states like Arizona have neither except for Pima and Maricopa counties. I have seen cars on the road that should not be on the road. No windows doors and bald tires. I saw an old Chevy pickup that was recently registered in the state of N.C.with oversized off road tires. All 4 tires were as bald as Mr Clean but some how passed inspection. Go figure.
Can you imagine how much money can be collected? If safety is really a concern inspect all vehicles 26,000 GVW and under.
Jesse says
Something to consider!! Clean Truck clean the inside of your cab good attitude and do what they ask will get you further! Why is the government tough on us? Look back on the 1980s=1990s. Outlaw truckers drinking smoking dope and pills. Guys getting caught running illegal and being at fault when someone dies! Trash, and piss bottles, and human poop being discarded in public! Its not just truckers doing this I’m sure however drivers play a big role here! Tailgating lack of comon sense driving too fast for conditions! Cars do it too! But the general public blames us. Bad drivers caused our industry to punish good drivers and the government is the babysitter now. Good day all
Felix says
Every inspections I have gotten in the 72 hours blitz have been level 3 just paper work I think if I don’t have a piece of paper I am unsafe I don’t have a problem with inspections but if I need to do a pretrip even day I think even inspections should be level 1 and dot should do there job right like I do that is why I think all about money then safety why would they take short cuts with level 3’s
Mack. says
The 23 percent out of service sounds outrageous to the public and looks good on the evening news. It shows that the DOT is doing its job and that it is not only needed, but needs to expand. It is easier to grow the beaurocracy when almost a third of the trucks, year in and year out are put out of service. However we the drivers who are on the receiving end of this up our you know what, really know what’s going on, how the inspections are conducted and how little it takes for the so called inspector to place you out of service. I was once placed out of service for literally a smudge on my brand new reefer’s airline, told to replace the whole airline and suggested to call a number, that just happened to be the inspector’s son in law.
Fozzy says
Damn.. When did drivers become such victims? Reading these posts is pretty pathetic.. The majority of drivers don’t do inspections on their equipment because they are lazy and or too damned inept to do so. the VAST majority of violations are owned lock stock and barrel by the person who is in the equipment being inspected. MOST drivers don’t even know (nor care) how to check their brake lights.. let alone how their brakes even work.
J. Darrell Patin, Sr. says
I retired from trucking in 2006. I have a current CDL-A, and a current DOT Medical card?
Don says
Stopped in PA for inspection level 1 inspected brakes ,air lines,steering, lights, load secured,then came paper logbook.After a hour came back and said log is wrong asked are sure he said yep and put me out of service 10 hrs been driving 40 years, I can count on one hand the inspection fines for so called violations in that 40 year time .Called safety told safety director what had happen he said your are sending me you log sheet and inspection report? as there was no fine but out of service for 10 said yep on it’s way.Two days later he calls me this log sheet is the same as your copy it is told him , He took it to Data Q fought it week later returned answer in big capital letters on peoplenet system WE WON ! . Now this was an Inspection Trooper truck enforcement division of PA State Police now it makes you think, who’s keeping track of the inspectors ?
Rightlane76 says
Exactly!
Charlie says
You all are dogging flatbed’s, but what about unsecured flat steel and coils in van trailers. I see it all the time and I see it come out the side of the trailer too.
Paul says
After driving for over 20 years, I hope they check for legal drivers, hand held cell phones and piss poor drivers that cant keep it in their own lane. Hurray for the crackdowns, drive legal drive safe and who cares.
Mack says
This blitz is not about safety it’s about numbers bad ones you get inspected nowadays they will most always put something on that almighty csa so here we go again same ole song an dance
Bad Influence says
Blah Blah Blah!! I’ve been driving 33 years 25 as an O/O with my own authority and it’s always been like this, either adapt or go find something else to do for a living and stop crying about what DOT is doing. Bottom line if your doing what your supposed to be doing and you keep up with maintenance on your truck have a great attitude with the DOT inspecting offer then you’ll have no worries. As for the person who said they knew an O/O who couldn’t afford a set of brake shoes well that O/O needs to go drive a company truck. You are NOT going to make more than &150k driving solo for big companies like JB/Swift…etc.
John taylor says
If the drivers would just shut down and refuse to run and quit be harassed that would be a big help but all the drivers these days are so afraid of being fired there are enough jobs out there c’mon drivers grow a set of balls
Rightlane76 says
No one would have a problem with the 72hr if the officer’s weren’t lining, since this csa came into affect,they dont find anything wrong with the truck they lie u have a marker light out,There full of #### its working.all about putting the little people out of business
David Rouse says
Hell with ’em! If you know what yer doing and do what ya know needs to be done, you don’t have a worry.
David Rouse says
States could standardize their rules tho. 50 states and they all wanna be different.
Tim arington says
I have been thru many inspections over the last 30 years, some officers are pretty good some not.. I do a pretrip!!!! For the most part very few problems. Important to keep a good attitude, we ALL have bad days, enough of this bs about strike and shut down. Drivers can’t agree on what color your socks are…they don’t even dress like a professional. Flip flops, shorts ,haven’t showered in 3 days. They don’t take care of themselves , why is this not a reflection of their equipment ? Act like a professional you’ll eventually be treated as one. It is about both , safety and money, looks like the blitz will reduce congestion on the road for myself, if I get an inspection, oh well, maybe I missed something. Good luck!!!!
rburne says
well here it is inspection blizt an we seen none. here in TN. . this is now Thursday 4:00 in afternoon. A little talk on CB but not about it. Scale house open rolling across.?