We are just a few weeks away from International Roadcheck, the annual three-day event when inspectors conduct targeted compliance enforcement inspections on commercial vehicles. Each year the inspection blitz has a focus and this year it is on anti-lock braking systems (ABS) and cargo securement.
This year Roadcheck is May 16 to 18, and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) says it chose ABS and cargo securement as the focus areas “to highlight the importance of those aspects of vehicle safety.”
CVSA also reminds us that although an ABS violation will not take a vehicle out of service, “ABS plays a critical role in reducing collisions.” Fewer collisions are something all of us in the trucking industry strive for.
Now is a good time to reinforce the importance of drivers to pay attention to whether the ABS lamp illuminates during the ABS diagnostic they should be performing during their pre- and post-trip inspections. They also should note if the ABS lamp stays on while the vehicle is moving. Both those conditions indicate a problem with the ABS system and should be noted on their Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) so that the ABS can be inspected, and any problems repaired.
See also: Bad brakes, false logs were most common 2022 Roadcheck violations
As for cargo securement, 10% of vehicle out-of-service violations during last year’s Roadcheck were related to cargo securement. Data from Roadcheck indicates that cargo securement is one of the top five reasons vehicles are taken out of service.
Improperly secured cargo presents problems for the vehicle driver and also for other motorists. When cargo is not secured properly it can affect vehicle maneuverability and, in some cases, improperly secured cargo can fall into the roadway. Checking that cargo is secure is also a key element of a pre-trip inspection.
In a CVSA informational bulletin, the agency outlined what it will be looking for during Roadcheck for both ABS operability and proper cargo securement. You can download the bulletin to learn more specifically about what the inspectors will be checking.
Since we know the dates for this year’s Roadcheck, fleets can use these next several weeks to reinforce proper inspection procedures with their drivers placing increased emphasis on ABS and cargo securement. Fleet managers can also remind their technicians of the need to take action on ABS issues noted on DVIRs so that they can be repaired, even though vehicles cannot be taken out of service for ABS faults.
Human nature being what it is, I suspect that if an inspector finds an ABS violation, they will wonder about how well maintained the vehicle is and will be even more diligent during the rest of the inspection and may find violations that can take a vehicle out of service.
These next few weeks are a good time to make sure all your vehicles are in top operating condition and take care of all maintenance-related issues so that when your drivers get stopped during Roadcheck they’ll drive away violation free.
Jane Clark is vice president of member services for NationaLease. In this position, she is focused on managing the member services operation as well as working to strengthen member relationships, reduce member costs, and improve collaboration within the NationaLease supporting groups. Prior to joining NationaLease, Clark served as area vice president for Randstad, one of the nation’s largest recruitment agencies, and before that, she served in management posts with QPS Cos., Pro Staff, and Manpower Inc.
