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07/11/2008 - Nearly 24% of Vehicles Placed Out-of-Service during RoadCheck 2008
Brake defects continued to top the list of reasons why vehicles were placed out-of-service during RoadCheck, the annual three-day commercial motor vehicle safety blitz held last month. This year 9,148 inspectors certified by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) performed 67,931 truck and bus inspections at 1,683 locations across North America.
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RoadCheck 2008 Results
Driver results by vehicle type
All Vehicles
94.7 percent of drivers passed the inspection
5.3 percent were placed out-of-service
Hazmat Vehicles
97.6 percent of drivers passed the inspection
2.4 percent were placed out-of-service
Passenger-Carrying Vehicles
95.5 percent of drivers passed the inspection
4.5 percent were placed out-of-service
Vehicle results by type
All Vehicles
79.2 percent of vehicles passed the inspection
20.8 percent were placed out-of-service
Hazmat Vehicles
82.4 percent of vehicles passed the inspection
17.6 percent were placed out-of-service
Passenger-Carrying Vehicles
87.8 percent of vehicles passed the inspection
12.2 percent were placed out-of-service
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Once again, the North American Standard Level I Inspection factored heavily in the round-the-clock safety initiative. During RoadCheck 2008, more than 77 percent of the inspections were Level I Inspections. The Level I Inspection, which is both the most common and most comprehensive type of roadside inspection, generally takes 45 to 60 minutes to perform. These 37–point inspections focus on the following key areas:
• Alcohol and drug use
• Driver’s license and other applicable documents ( e.g., medical examiner’s certificate, skill performance evaluation, shipping papers, etc.)
• Seat belt use
• Log books, vehicle inspection reports and supporting documentation
• Brake systems
• Coupling devices
• Exhaust and fuel systems
• Frames and suspension
• Lighting devices (e.g., turn signals, brake lamps, tail lamps, etc.)
• Steering mechanism
• Tires, wheels and rims
• Windshield wipers
• Safe loading
• Emergency exits for buses
• Hazardous materials compliance (if applicable) |
Overall, RoadCheck 2008 saw significant positive gains in out-of-service rates for most vehicle and driver types, according to CVSA. At 23.9 percent, the vehicle out-of-service rate for Level I Inspections is the lowest in the 21-year history of the event. Brake problems accounted for 52.6 percent of total vehicle defects identified by RoadCheck inspectors.
On the driver side, the out-of-service rate improved 14.5 percent over RoadCheck 2007 results. Overall, the 2008 driver out-of-service rate was 5.3 percent. CVSA reported that Hours of Service violation numbers were trending downward. In 2008, 3.8 percent of all drivers inspected were placed out-of-service on Hours of Service violations, down from 4.9 percent the previous year. Meanwhile, seat belt violations rose significantly in 2008. There were 829 seat belt violations in 2007, and 1,226 this year.
CVSA sponsors RoadCheck each year with FMCSA, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).
Prepare for Roadside Inspections with Our New Guide
The inspections performed during RoadCheck and other safety blitzes account for only a small percentage of the 3 million roadside inspections conducted each year. For commercial motor vehicle operators, a roadside inspection is a very real possibility each time they hit the road.
To help drivers prepare for roadside inspections, Foley Services has developed What to Expect During a Roadside Inspection. This 19-page guide helps familiarize motor carriers and their drivers with the inspection process and explores the most common reasons why drivers and vehicles are placed out-of-service. To receive the special Roadcheck 2008 rate of $19, click here or call 1-800-253-5506 x707 or email Sales@FoleyServices.com. (Quantity discounts are available.) |
