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Is CVSA’s Roadcheck improving highway safety?

April 23, 2025

It's been 36 years since North America's first International Roadcheck safety enforcement campaign. While truck equipment and technology have improved, truck out-of-service rates hover around 20%.

Jim Park

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s first International Roadcheck safety campaign took place in 1988. One striking takeaway from the 36 years the program has been running is how consistent the out-of-service rate has remained.

Since truck equipment has improved over that time, and enforcement criteria have evolved, the overall OOS rate for vehicles and drivers has clung stubbornly to 20% and 5%, respectively—give or take a few points either way—year to year.

Is this the natural condition of the fleet, or can the industry do better?

Jeremy Disbrow, CVSA’s roadside inspection specialist and a former Arizona Department of Public Safety state trooper and commercial vehicle enforcement training coordinator, told FleetOwner Roadcheck isn’t about coercing fleets to improve their OOS rates with the threat of enforcement; instead, it’s an education and outreach opportunity.

“The roadside inspection at Roadcheck gives us an opportunity to work with drivers,” he said. “At other times, we work with motor carriers to change the safety mindset at the top, and hopefully that works its way down to drivers.”

Here are the top 5 out-of-service violations from Roadcheck 2024. These are much the same as the previous five years, suggesting fleets should keep a better eye on these vehicle systems for potential problems.

About the Author

Jim Park

Jim Park is an award-winning journalist who has covered the trucking industry since 1998. Before that, he racked up 2 million miles as an over-the-road truck driver and owner-operator pulling tank trailers. He continues to maintain his CLD. Park's previous driving experience brings a real-world perspective to his work.