The annual International Roadcheck, a 72-hour enforcement blitz in the US, Canada, and Mexico, will be held this year from May 12th through the 14th by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. During this time, inspectors will conduct checks on thousands of commercial vehicle inspections at weigh stations, rest areas, and roadside inspection locations during this event.
According to the CVSA:
For the driver portion of the inspection, inspectors check the driver’s qualifications, license, record of duty status, medical examiner’s certificate, seat belt usage, skill performance evaluation certificate (if applicable), and status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse (in the U.S.). Inspectors also look for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment. If an inspector identifies driver out-of-service violations, they will place the driver out of service, restricting that driver from operating their vehicle.
Additionally, every year, the CVSA incorporates a unique emphasis area in addition to checking driver credentials and equipment. The focus this year will be drivers who cheat or tamper with their electronic logging devices (ELDs) to circumvent hours-of-service (HOS) regulations.
This won’t make much of a difference for most drivers. As long as you’re operating legally, you shouldn’t be concerned. But for those who have manually changed the records in their ELD, law enforcement officials will be focusing on the accuracy of yours logs. This entails searching for indications of disconnected ELDs, inappropriate personal conveyance use, phantom drivers, or discrepancies between logs and supporting documentation such as bills of lading and fuel receipts.
Inspectors are skilled at their craft, and infractions can have severe repercussions. Drivers who are found to be falsifying their records may be immediately suspended, which will result in missed mileage and revenue. Repeated infractions can harm your safety record, and carriers may also be subject to fines and heightened inspection.
While HOS regulations are onerous and often inconvenient, these regulations are still broadly important for safety. Shippers, dispatch, or strict deadlines may put pressure on you to falsify logs, but the chance of being caught or, worse, of being involved in an accident due to tiredness is not worth it.
There is more to roadcheck than just enforcement. Additionally, it serves as a reminder to check that everything is in order. Make sure your logs are accurate, your ELD is operating appropriately, and the rest of your gear is in good working order.
Expect additional inspections and potential delays during International Roadcheck week. If you’ve been following the regulations, you’ll get through it without any problems.