The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has announced that the highly anticipated International Roadcheck will occur May 13-15 this year. This three-day event, covering Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is designed to ensure that commercial motor vehicles comply with regulations and to enhance roadway safety.
During International Roadcheck, CVSA-certified law enforcement officers will perform comprehensive inspections of commercial vehicles and drivers at various locations, such as weigh/inspection stations, temporary roadside sites, and mobile patrols.
This year's focus areas are tires and false records of duty status (RODS).
The Importance of Tire Inspections & Maintenance
Proper tire maintenance is crucial to any company's safety and success. A flat tire (or worse — a blowout) on the road poses a serious risk to all drivers and can lead to significant delivery delays. For commercial trucks, replacing tires can cost anywhere from $250 to $1,200+ per tire. Now is the time to inspect the condition of your tires for signs of wear and damage and replace them as needed.
During a tire inspection of a commercial vehicle, the inspector will check for the following issues:
- Low tread depth
- Audible air leaks
- Flat tires
- Exposed belt material or casing ply in the tread or sidewall
- Tread or sidewall separation
- Bulges in the sidewall
- Improper repairs, like rubber-coated plugs in the sidewall
- Objects lodged between dual tires
Avoiding False Records of Duty Status (RODS)
The FMCSA hours-of-service (HOS) regulations are designed to limit driving hours and mandate rest breaks to prevent commercial vehicle drivers from operating while feeling fatigued. But these regulations are only effective if drivers accurately record their driving/non-driving times and duty statuses in their Record of Duty Status (RODS).
When inspectors review a driver’s RODS for hours-of-service compliance, they will also check for:
- Electronic logging device tampering, including driving while not logged in, disconnected devices, and improper edits
- Ghost drivers (claiming a co-driver when a co-driver is not present)
- Improper use of the personal conveyance special driving category
- Improper use of other exceptions, such as adverse driving conditions
- Recording off-duty time while performing work for a motor carrier or non-motor carrier
Get the most up-to-date information on the FMCSA hours-of-service regulations, including who they apply to, in this related Foley article: Compliance Review: FMCSA Hours-of-Service Rules
Remember, the risk of running false logs is not worth the financial consequences. The FMCSA false log book penalty is now $1,584 per day, with the maximum total penalty at $15,846.
Learn from the CVSA Roadcheck 2024 Results
The data gathered during the 72 hours of International Roadcheck 2025 will be thoroughly analyzed, and the results will be released to the public later this summer. This information will offer valuable insights into FMCSA compliance levels and help pinpoint areas for improvement in the transportation industry.
If you're interested in the inspection results from International Roadcheck 2024, you can find them here.
Prepare for 2025 Roadcheck Inspections Now
Before your drivers are caught unprepared during this year's Roadcheck inspections, take another look at your overall FMCSA compliance. Are you keeping updated records on all of your drivers and trucks, including their CDL/CLPs, medical certificates, and proof of insurance? What about your vehicle maintenance records?
If you're not sure where your DOT recordkeeping stands, now is the time to review your important documents and get them in order before Roadcheck inspections begin. Inspectors will ask for various documents during Roadcheck reviews. Check out our DOT recordkeeping checklist to get started, and contact our compliance experts with any questions.
Foley can help you prepare for International Roadcheck 2025 with confidence. Dash, our exclusive DOT compliance platform, manages all your FMCSA compliance needs in one place for easier roadside inspections and compliance audits.
Click here to get a free Dash demo now, whether you're starting your FMCSA compliance efforts from scratch or looking to maintain your compliance beyond inspection season.
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