The findings from the 2023 International Road Check, conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), are now available. Despite the passage of another year, the numbers indicate minimal change, highlighting ample room for improvement in the safety and compliance practices of motor carriers. Please read this blog for more information or consult with our team at Decatur Trailer Sales & Service Inc. in Decatur, IL.
The Results
Spanning May 16-18, this annual three-day inspection initiative was widespread, covering the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Certified inspectors from CVSA dedicated their efforts to performing level I, II, and III inspections, totaling 59,429 road check inspections across North America, with the majority occurring in the U.S.
In the United States, slightly over 19% of inspections, approximately one in five, resulted in at least one out-of-service (OOS) violation—a marginal 4% improvement from the previous year. Consistent with the previous year, driver OOS violations made up 6% of total violations. Out-of-service violations entail a restriction on the vehicle or driver from operating for a specific period or until the identified issue is resolved. Beyond the operational disruptions for fleets, these violations carry a more significant severity score, adversely impacting their Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) profiles.
The top five OOS violation categories for vehicles this year include brake systems, tires, defective service brakes, cargo securement, and lights. Parallel to last year’s statistics, the primary driver OOS violation categories were hours of service, false logs, other, canceled/revoked license, and no medical card. Enhancing safety is an ongoing endeavor. Initiating substantial change necessitates individual companies taking proactive measures and assuming responsibility for their roadside inspection outcomes.
Avoid the Consequences of Poor Inspections
Roadside inspections leave a lasting impact, with violations affecting a carrier’s CSA profile for 24 months. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) may prioritize carriers for intervention and onsite audits based on their CSA scores. A compliance review with sufficient violations could result in a downgrade of a carrier’s safety rating. Rick Malchow, industry business adviser at J. J. Keller & Associates Inc., emphasizes that audits and reviews are often tied to CSA scores, making clean inspections crucial for reducing both company and driver scores. J. J. Keller has been a trusted safety and compliance expert in the transport industry since 1953.
Avoid poor roadside inspections to mitigate audit risks. It is crucial to learn from common violations industry-wide and within the carrier’s organization. Carriers should focus on these areas, proactively addressing issues to prevent future fallout, out-of-service events, and the associated risks of poor CSA scores.
Corrective Actions You Can Take
Fortunately, carriers can address the most prevalent roadside inspection violations effectively. According to Tom Bray, senior industry business adviser at J. J. Keller, while some think the plateauing of out-of-service (OOS) numbers indicates the lowest achievable level, he believes the industry can surpass this. The common violations noted during roadside inspections are areas where fleets and drivers can make a positive impact. Refer to the chart below for straightforward corrective actions for these frequent violations:
| Roadside Inspection Violations | Suggested Corrective Actions |
| Brake System Violations Tire Violations Defective Service Brakes | Carriers developing and following better maintenance practices |
| Tire Violations Cargo Securement Light Violations | Drivers doing more effective driver pre-trip and en route inspections, combined with carriers having better repair practices. |
| Canceled/Revoked License No Medical Card | Carriers and drivers are doing a better job of managing driver credentials. |
| Hours of Service False Logs | Drivers and carriers paying more attention to hours-of-service compliance |
| Speeding Failure to Obey a Traffic Control Device Lane Restriction | Drivers practicing defensive and compliant driving |
Get to the Root of the Problem
Addressing the root cause of violations is the initial step in resolving immediate issues; however, violations often signal broader underlying issues. For sustained improvements, carriers should step back and analyze the factors leading to violations.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Safety Management Cycle (SMC) is a valuable tool that focuses on the comprehensive landscape of a motor carrier’s safety operations to comprehend the reasons behind violations or issues. Enforcement staff utilize this tool during Department of Transportation audits, and motor carriers find it beneficial to implement it after encountering a subpar roadside inspection.
“Violations could indicate that you don’t have sufficient safety management controls,” explained Rick Malchow. “You can’t go wrong using the FMCSA’s Safety Management Cycle. It provides a comprehensive framework to identify and shore up weak areas by addressing the ‘systems, policies, programs, practices, and procedures used by a motor carrier to ensure compliance.”
The Safety Management Cycle
The Safety Management Cycle consists of the following steps:
Policies and procedures—policies and procedures form the foundational “what” and “how” of a motor carrier’s operations, serving as a guiding roadmap for the behavior of both the carrier and its employees. These documents reflect the company’s commitment to safety and compliance.
Roles and responsibilities—roles and responsibilities allocate specific duties to employees, establishing ownership for the implementation of policies and procedures. Essentially, each employee is assigned a defined role.
Qualification and hiring—driver qualification and hiring involves the recruitment and screening of applicants who can fulfill these roles and responsibilities. Maintaining tight controls on driver qualification files is crucial to ensuring thorough vetting and compliance.
Training and communication—training and communication functions are essential for conveying the company’s policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities. They play a vital role in setting expectations, equipping everyone with the necessary skills, and fostering a lasting team.
Monitoring and tracking—monitoring and tracking create a system to stay informed about employee performance. This includes assessing safety performance, compliance with policies, and the execution of roles and responsibilities. Monitoring observes the overall operation performance, while tracking involves evaluating collected data.
Meaningful action—the meaningful action component focuses on how a motor carrier can assist employees in correcting or improving behavior. This may involve continued training or positive reinforcement, aiming to enhance the overall safety performance of the motor carrier.
Consult with our Team at Decatur Trailer Sales & Service, Inc.
Drivers play a frontline role during roadside inspections, interacting directly with officers. Ensuring drivers comprehend officers’ expectations and inspection criteria is crucial. However, the responsibility for the outcome of inspections extends to all departments, including management, safety, administration (covering the training department, human resources, and dispatch), maintenance, and drivers. Successful or unsuccessful inspections are collective efforts requiring collaboration and preparation from motor carriers, drivers, and maintenance alike. Each entity must contribute to thorough preparation before inspections. For further expert advice, consult with our team at Decatur Trailer Sales & Service, Inc. in Decatur, IL by calling 217.422.7179.
*For more information, content was obtained from this website:
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/international-roadcheck-results-carriers-have-room-for-improvement
