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4/17/2009 - Roadcheck Slated for Early June For motor carriers, driver and vehicle safety is a constant concern. Getting the job done — whether it’s shuttling children to school, hauling a load of potatoes from Idaho or delivering oil to a residence — requires a great deal of attention to detail and a strong commitment to safety. Annual safety blitzes, such as Roadcheck, shine the national spotlight on the issue of Commercial Motor Vehicle safety. Each year during the 72-hour event inspectors inspect tens of thousands of vehicles and hand out countless citations and out-of-service orders. It makes good fodder for the evening news. Roadcheck 2009 will take place at thousands of locations across North America from June 2–4. Yes, a driver’s chances of being selected for a roadside inspection during these three days in June are much greater than usual. However, each time a driver hops into a commercial motor vehicle there’s a chance for a roadside inspection. The best strategy for a successful inspection outcome and the safety of the driver and the general public is to always be prepared for your next roadside inspection FMCSA’s 2008 Inspection Data In 2008, 3.3 million roadside inspections were conducted in the United States, according to the most recent report for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Nearly 2.3 million, or 68.61%, resulted in at least one violation. Last year the driver, vehicle and hazmat out-of-service rates remained fairly steady at 6.4%, 22.38% and 5.01% respectively. Inspectors issue out-of-service orders when they discover a driver or vehicle defect so severe that it must be corrected before the driver can continue operating. Examples of citations that frequently result in out-of-service orders include hours-of-service and CDL violations as well as brake-related defects. Mistakes, whether your own or the blunders of others, tend to be excellent teachers. Here’s a review of last year’s top driver, vehicle and hazmat violations to help drivers prepare for Roadcheck 2009 or any impromptu meeting with an inspector. Top Five Driver Violations In 2008, there were 3.1 million inspections involving drivers and driver documentation. Nearly 37% of those review resulted in at least one violation. At the top of the 2008 driver violation list were:
Top Five Vehicle Violations There were more than 2.2 million vehicle inspections last year. 66% of them resulted in one or more violation. The top five vehicle violations for 2008 were:
Top Five Hazmat Violations Last year’s 192,516 hazmat inspections resulted in a violation rate of almost 17%. At the top of the violation list were:
Know What to Expect For even more information on roadside inspection procedures and pitfalls, many motor carriers and drivers consult Foley Services’ What to Expect During a Roadside Inspection. In addition to road-tested advice for surviving roadside inspections, this easy-to-read guide covers:
 Implementing the ideas in What to Expect During a Roadside Inspection will improve drivers’ chances of successful roadside inspection outcomes while increasing overall safety on the road. Click here to order What to Expect During a Roadside Inspection. Use Coupon Code RC2009 to get the Roadcheck 2009 rate of $9.95 — a significant discount off the $19 cover price. This limited offer expires May 31. For more information, please call 1-800-253-5506, ext. 707.
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