What You Need to Know About the Upcoming Road Inspections

First up is the Operation Safe Driver Week brought to you by the CVSA in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This annual truck inspection was created to help reduce the number of deaths, crashes, and injuries involving heavy use vehicles. CVSA enforcement officers will not only be cracking down on commercial vehicles but also passenger vehicles with unsafe driving behaviors around CMV’s.

The CVSA has reported that driver behavior is the leading cause of accidents. The “Large Truck Crash Causation Study” from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that dangerous driver behaviors cause 88 percent of large truck crashes and 94 percent of passenger vehicles crashes.

Authorized enforcement personnel will be targeting the following during Operation Safe Driver Week:

• Distracted driving
• Texting
• Traffic violations 
• Seat belt usage 
• Speeding

Last year 39,000 citations and warnings were issued to drivers during the Operation Safe Driver Week.

Brake Safety Week

September 16-22, 2018

As part of the CVSA’s Brake Safety Week set for September 16-22, 2018, certified enforcement personnel will conduct roadside inspections. During this time heavy highway use vehicles with critical brake violations will be identified and placed out of service. Maintaining a functioning braking system is vital for any driver but most definitely for Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliances. However, if you are maintaining your braking system and performing your routine pre/post trip inspections, you should be fine.

CVSA certified inspectors will conduct a standard Level I 37 point inspection that includes you and your vehicle. The brake inspection of the inspection will consist of the following:

• Identifying loose or missing parts
• Air or hydraulic fluid leaks
• Defective rotor conditions
• Measurement of pushrod travel
• Mismatched air chamber sizes across axles
• Air reservoir integrity and mounting
• Worn linens
• Pads
• Drums or rotors
• Brake-system warning devices
• Also, any other brake components

In 12 jurisdictions you will be using performance-based brake testing (PBBT) equipment to test your vehicle’s braking efficiency. For more information on this inspection visit the CVSA website.

2290 Tax Due Date

File My Heavy Use Tax Now