Over 400,000 roadside inspections have been conducted so far in 2025, with nearly 82,000 of them resulting in at least one out-of-service (OOS) violation. The number of these inspections is expected to continue to climb, especially as International Roadcheck 2025 kicks off in less than two months.
When a driver receives an OOS violation, they cannot resume driving until the issue has been resolved. This can cause serious delays in any company's operations, especially those with a limited number of drivers.
Out-of-service orders are also recorded on a company's Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) score for 24 months. The more recorded safety issues your company has, the higher your score will be — which only increases your chances of facing additional federal interventions, like safety and compliance audits.
The key to passing roadside inspections is understanding the following:
We dive into each of these factors below.
Certain drivers and commercial vehicles are usually selected for roadside inspections because an officer has spotted something off about their driving behavior or the state of their commercial vehicle. The driver could be speeding, or maybe one of the vehicle's tires is flat.
However, unlike non-commercial vehicles, officers don’t need a specific reason to pull over a CMV driver. They will often pull over a driver for the sole purpose of conducting an inspection.
There are seven roadside inspection levels, each less complex as the level number increases.
To learn more about each type of CMV roadside inspection, click here.
The top five driver violations and the number of occurrences for 2025 so far are as follows:
The majority of these are based on driver behavior, which can be tracked with an MVR monitoring program. Employers can enroll any number of drivers, receive notifications if any changes are reported to their license records, and address any violations that may come up.
In terms of violation numbers two and three, your drivers must adhere to all federal hours-of-service regulations and keep their record of duty status (RODS) updated throughout their routes. One of the focus areas for the 2025 CVSA Roadcheck blitz is records of duty. Inspectors will be looking for false HOS records and ELD violations during this year's roadside inspections.
Plus, performing basic DOT background checks on drivers during the pre-employment process can ensure they have the required licenses and endorsements to operate your company's commercial vehicles legally.
These are the top five vehicle violations and the number of times they've been recorded in 2025 so far:
Regularly inspecting and maintaining your CMVs not only reduces your risk of the above violations, but also helps ensure your drivers are safe behind the wheel.
Tires are the vehicle focus area for this year's Roadcheck inspections. Remind drivers to perform pre- and post-trip inspections, carefully check all tires for signs of wear, and report any issues to your maintenance team.
Although your driver may not be able to avoid being pulled over, it is possible to prevent OOS orders that may result from a random roadside inspection.
Implementing an effective preventative maintenance program can help your team recognize potential issues with your commercial vehicles before your drivers take them on the road. Managing your vehicle maintenance recordkeeping is also key to staying organized, keeping up with regular maintenance, and ensuring your drivers have the right documentation with them in the event of a roadside inspection.
In terms of avoiding driver violations, creating and maintaining DOT-compliant driver files is the best way to stay on top of your drivers' qualification documents, like their CDLs, medical certificates, and more. Inspectors will typically check these items for their validity and expiration, especially during level-one inspections.
Talk to a Foley compliance expert today about how easy it can be to manage your DOT recordkeeping requirements so your drivers can have better chances at passing roadside inspections in 2025.