The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) 28th annual International Roadcheck, billed as the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, will take place June 2-4. This year’s point of emphasis: cargo securement.During the 72-hour roadside blitz, approximately 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors will average nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected every minute in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.The special emphasis means that, while checking for compliance with safe loading regulations is always part of roadside inspections, CVSA is highlighting cargo safety as a reminder to drivers and carriers.“The proper loading and securing of cargo on vehicles is a matter of public safety,” the CVSA notice says.Here’s a reminder: For many types of loads, particularly those that are not sealed or otherwise inaccessible to the driver, regulations require the driver to stop within the first several miles of a trip and recheck the tie downs and other load securing equipment.More generally, inspectors will be conducting the 37-step North American Standard Level I Inspection.International Roadcheck is a CVSA program with participation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during Roadcheck have numbered over 1.4 million, resulting in an estimated 318 lives saved and 5,840 injuries avoided, according to CVSA.CVSA’s “checklist for drivers” is available for download on the Roadcheck homepage.
