Although as a truck driver you should always be prepared for a roadside inspection when you hit the highway, there is one week a year when it is especially important to have everything in line with your truck. What week do you ask? Well, the week that the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance does a 72-hour commercial motor vehicle inspection spree, of course! The Alliance is a nonprofit that focuses on commercial motor vehicle inspections and safety, and it has done a roadside inspection every year for the past 30 years. Yet some truckers still get caught by surprise and are not prepared for the inspection. The International Road Check 2017 will take place June 6-8, and there will be a special focus on cargo securement this year. To help prepare, here is everything you need to know about what the International Road Check is, who is behind it, and how you can be prepared if you get stopped.
History of International Road Check 2017
The International Road Check started in the late 1980s, and it is a three-day event where Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance-certified inspectors get out on the roads in Mexico, the U.S., and Canada and inspect trucks to make sure they are complying with inspection regulations. They also use the three-day event to provide additional education to drivers and the general public about vehicle safety. The inspections all take place along the side of the road and the total count of inspections to-date since its inception exceeds 1.4 million. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance sponsors International Road Check 2017, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation in Mexico all participate as well.
Are You Ready for International Road Check 2017?
If you are worried about whether or not you are prepared for the International Road Check 2017, check out some data about roadside inspections and the top roadside violations that tend to occur. Some examples of top violations include oil or grease leaks, issues with the fire extinguisher and inoperative turning signals. You could also consider these five maintenance tips, which will not only help you avoid a breakdown but could potentially improve your chances of passing the international road check inspection. Since the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is focusing on cargo securement this year, some violations related to that include failure to prevent the cargo from being lost or shifted, failure to secure truck equipment, damaged tie-downs or tie-downs that are loose. The type of inspection to take place over the 72-hour time period is going to be a Level I – North American Standard Inspection.
Fast Facts about International Road Check
So, what are your chances of getting pulled over for an inspection during the International Road Check? It is hard to say, but on average, 15 trucks and buses are inspected every minute across North America during the International Road check. In 2016, Commercial Vehicle Safety inspectors found that 21.5 percent of the trucks they inspected should not have been in service. Let’s repeat that so it settles in… In 2016, Commerical Vehicle Safety inspectors found that 21.5 percent of the trucks they inspected should NOT have been in service. So, take the time to check over your rig and make sure you’re not one of them. At the end of the day, safety should always be the most important factor before, during, and after you hit the road.
