CVSA Releases 2020 International Roadcheck Results

More than 50,000 North American Standard Level I, II, III, and V inspections were conducted throughout Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) three-day International Roadcheck commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and enforcement initiative. The overall vehicle out-of-service rate in North America, for Level I, II, and V Inspections combined, was 20.9%.

The 2020 International Roadcheck took place Sept. 9-11, after being postponed from its originally scheduled date of May 5-7, due to the coronavirus pandemic. International Roadcheck identifies and removes unsafe commercial motor vehicles and drivers from roadways, and highlights the safety compliance of motor carriers and professional drivers through the issuance of the CVSA decal on eligible vehicles. The decal is a visual marker that signifies a vehicle has been inspected by a CVSA-certified inspector and no critical vehicle inspection item violations were detected.

During the recent Roadcheck, CVSA-certified inspectors primarily conducted the more comprehensive 37-step North American Standard Level I inspection. The Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle inspection, Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative inspection, and Level V Vehicle-Only inspection were also acceptable.

This year, a total of 50,151 inspections were conducted. Following the completion of a Level I or Level V inspection, vehicles without critical vehicle inspection item violations were eligible for a CVSA decal. Receiving decals were some 9303 power units, 3662 trailers, and 123 passenger carrier vehicles, for a total of 13,088 decals.

If an inspector identifies critical vehicle inspection item out-of-service violations, using the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria that outlines such conditions, the vehicle will be rendered out of service. These identified out-of-service violations must be corrected before the vehicle will be permitted to proceed.

Vehicles inspected during 2020 International Roadcheck included large trucks/combinations, cargo tanks/combinations transporting hazardous materials (hazmat), non-hazmat cargo tanks/combinations, and passenger carrier vehicles.

The top five vehicle out-of-service violations in North America were: brake system, total number 3163, or 25.8%; tires, 2326 or 19.0%; lights, 1650 or 13.5%; cargo securement, 1586 or 12.9%; and brake adjustment, 1567 or 12.8%.The total number of out-of-service vehicle violations from Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. combined was 12,254.

Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a category of violations. The 2020 focus was on the driver requirements category. A driver may be placed out of service for violations related to the driver’s age; commercial driver’s license or operator’s/chauffeur’s license or permit; medical/physical requirements; record of duty status; sickness or fatigue; or intoxicating beverages, drugs, and other substances.

Overall, the primary driver out-of-service violation category was for hours of service, accounting for 3247 or 34.7% of the violations. Additional violations include: other (moving violations, cell phone use, etc.), a total of 709 or 21.8%; wrong class license, 687 or 21.2%; false logs, 455 or 14.0%; and suspended license, 141 or 4.3%. A check of safety belt use resulted in a total of 768 seatbelt violations.

In the U.S., 45,046 Level I, II, and III inspections were conducted on 7256 vehicles, which resulted in 2365 drivers being removed from roadways due to the discovery of critical vehicle inspection item out-of-service violations or unsafe out-of-service driver conditions during the three-day event.

The top five OOS violations in the U.S.: brake system, 2716 or 25.4%; tires, 2102 or 19.7%; lights, 1476 or 13.8%; brake adjustment, 1393 or 13.0%; and cargo securement, 1343 or 12.6%. The total U.S. number of out-of-service vehicle violations identified by inspectors was 10,676.

The top five driver OOS violations in the U.S.: hours of service, 999 violations or 32.5%; other (moving violations, cell phone use, etc.), 694 or 22.6%; wrong class license, 683 or 22.2%; false logs, 447 or 14.6%; and suspended license, 140 or 4.6%. The total U.S. out-of-service driver violations discovered was 3072.

The Level I inspection, the most thorough inspection level, consists of an in-depth inspection of both the vehicle and the driver. Of the 22,629 Level I Inspections conducted in the U.S., the vehicle out-of-service rate was 22.2% and the driver out-of-service rate was 5.3%, accounting for 5023 vehicles and 1203 drivers removed from roadways due to out-of-service violations.

In addition to the Level I Inspections performed in the U.S., 11,085 Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspections and 11,332 Level III Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspections were also conducted.

During 2020 event, CVSA decals were applied to 7515 power units, 2745 trailers, and 118 passenger carrier vehicles in the U.S. for a total of 10,378 decals.

In addition to the driver and vehicle categories of a Level I or Level II inspection, a third category, hazardous materials/dangerous goods, may also be part of the inspection. If hazmats are detected, inspectors may check shipping papers, markings, labels, and placards, and check for any leaking material or unsecured cargo.

Of the 33,714 Level I and Level II Inspections conducted in the U.S., 2288 were on hazmat vehicles. The hazmat vehicle out-of-service rate was 12.0% and the driver out-of-service rate was 1.4%. The top five hazmat OOS violations in the U.S.: loading, 89 violations or 51.4%; shipping papers, 38 violations or 22.0%; placards, 34 or 19.7%; markings, seven or 4.0%; and other hazardous materials, three or 1.7%. The total number of hazmat out-of-service violations in the U.S. was 173.

The next International Roadcheck is scheduled for May 4-6.

SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, January 7, 2021. Weekly Propane Newsletter subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.