The blitz will be on next week! Now in its 29th year, Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world. Approximately 17 trucks are inspected every minute throughout North America during the 72 hour period. This year, Roadcheck is happening from Tuesday, June 7th to Thursday, June 9th. Approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial, territorial and federal inspectors in jurisdictions across Canada, the United States and Mexico perform large truck and bus safety inspections.
Each year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a category of violations. This year’s focus is on tire safety. Inspectors will be:
- measuring the tire tread depth,
- checking the tire pressure,
- checking to make sure that no items are lodged between dual tires
- examining the overall condition of the tire to make sure that no deep cuts or bulges exist in the sidewalls of the tire.
To prepare, drivers should check all these areas prior to heading out on the road. Check out our recent blog post on tire preventative maintenance for additional key information and tire care tips, and be sure to read the CVSA’s fact sheet on the top tire violations of 2015. A driver’s pre-trip inspection and standard industry maintenance should prevent all tire related violations, but flat tires or tires with an audible air leak made up 36% of the out of service violations issued in 2015.
Along with this focus on tires during International Roadcheck, inspectors primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, the most thorough roadside inspection. It is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of both the driver and vehicle. During an inspection, drivers are required to provide items such as their license, endorsements, medical card and hours-of-service documentation, and may be checked for seat belt usage and the use of alcohol and/or drugs. The vehicle inspection includes checking items such as:
- braking systems
- coupling devices
- fuel and exhaust systems
- frame
- lights
- steering mechanism
- driveline/driveshaft
- suspension
- tires, wheels and rims
- windshield wipers
- van and open-top trailer bodies
- securement of cargo
Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during International Roadcheck have numbered more than 1.4 million. And so far, the event has saved over 300 lives and approximately 5,000 injuries have been avoided. So, make sure you are ready for this year’s Roadcheck next Tuesday to Thursday; remember, being put out of service costs an average of $861!
For more info on Roadcheck 2016, visit the CVSA’s website.
Kat Ball | Marketing Coordinator
United World Transportation | driving the road ahead | www.unitedworldtransportation.com
Direct: 604.982.1493 | Ph: 877.273.7400 | F: 866.986.7401
Corporate Head Office: 201-221 West Esplanade Avenue |North Vancouver, BC | V7M 3J3
