Are you ready for the upcoming Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck? From May 13 to May 15, 2025, law enforcement officers will be targeting commercial vehicles for 72 hours at weigh stations, temporary sites, and through mobile patrols across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Each year, the International Roadcheck emphasizes specific violation categories. This year, inspectors will conduct level 1 inspections which is a comprehensive 37-step procedure that covers both driver operating requirements and vehicle safety. While all steps will be completed, inspectors will pay particular attention to the following two areas:
- Driver’s Record of Duty Status (RODS), especially regarding false logs
- Vehicle tires
Both of these categories carry significant severity points and can lead to drivers being placed out of service (OOS). Severity points may also increase your compliance, safety, accountability (CSA) scores in the hours of service (HOS) and vehicle maintenance categories. Here are some basic preventative measures to help ensure a successful 2025 Roadcheck:
Driver’s record of duty status:
- Monitor your fleet’s electronic logging device (ELD) violations, including exceeding the 11-hour, 14-hour, 34-hour, 10-hour, and 30-minute break rules.
- Ensure that your drivers accept any unassigned driving time at the beginning of each shift.
- Pay special attention to ELD reports, such as personal conveyance and adverse conditions, ensuring they are used correctly.
- Confirm that your drivers have the required ELD documentation and are competent in operating the ELD, providing the appropriate information to officers.
Vehicle tires:
- Ensure all drivers complete their daily vehicle inspection reports (DVIR) and report any defects accurately.
- Have qualified mechanics conduct weekly walkarounds of the fleet’s vehicles to check for obvious tire defects.
- Implement a vehicle safety inspection blitz, where safety personnel perform unannounced inspections on your vehicles.
- Be present when drivers complete their inspections to promote proper procedures and strengthen the safety culture.
These preventative measures will help you eliminate avoidable violations. If you do receive violations, it’s crucial to investigate the accuracy of the report against the facts and challenge any invalid violations through a DATAQ challenge. Maintaining a healthy inspection selection system (ISS) score will reduce the potential for a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audit or increased vehicle inspections on the road.
For further assistance with your fleet safety program, DATAQ challenges, or CSA scores, please reach out to your MMA Safety Advisor.
