When it comes to your fleet of vehicles the safety of your drivers, and your vehicles, is incredibly important and every year your vehicles will undergo road checks to make sure they are completely up to date on safety and maintenance. Each year there is a chosen focus for safety checks on vehicles that do a lot of driving and are always on the road. In 2019, the focus for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is surrounding steering and suspension. What does this mean for your fleet? Here’s a little more information for what you can expect during the coming road checks.
When will it happen?
This year, the international road check will take place from June 4 – 6. During that time period there will be commercial motor vehicle inspectors located in multiple areas across North America. They will be completing inspections on commercial motor vehicles and the drivers.
What will be inspected?
While every year the focus of the inspection changes that doesn’t mean your whole vehicle won’t be looked over. This year, the inspectors will be paying special attention to the steering and suspension components of each vehicle. You will still be expected to meet the compliance standards of the North American Inspection Program, though.
Why were steering and suspension chosen?
While they aren’t they only important systems on a vehicle, steering and suspension do play a critical role in the complete safety of any commercial vehicle. The suspension component helps to support the heavy loads carried by trucks and buses, but it also helps the driver to maintain control of the vehicle while braking or accelerating. The suspension also helps to keep everything in alignment so there isn’t uneven wear on the tires and to ensure maximum contact between the truck and the road for the best steering.
What components will be inspected?
During this year’s road check the inspectors will give your vehicle a complete look over, but they will be focusing especially on a few areas. Some of the areas you can expect to looked over closely are
- Brake systems
- Cargo securement
- Driveline/driveshaft
- Frames
- Fuel Systems
- Lighting devices
- Steering mechanisms
- Open-top trailer bodies
- Wheels
- Rims and hubs
- Windshield wipers
The inspector may choose to look at other areas on your vehicle but any area related to suspension or steering will be reviewed more closely this year.
What do my driver’s need to have?
Each driver, when their vehicle is being inspected, will be required to have certain documentation available to verify their identity. Make sure your driver has the following pieces of ID readily available for their inspection
- Driver’s license/operating credentials
- Medical Examiner’s Certificate
- Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate (if applicable)
- Record of duty status
- Vehicle inspection reports
The inspectors may also choose to check for driver’s using a seatbelt, excessive fatigues and/or drug/alcohol use. While driver’s should never be driving under the influence for safety reasons, inspections may choose to interview drivers if they suspect impairment.
Make sure you re completely ready for your International Road Check this year! Keeping your vehicles regularly maintained can go a long way each year with these road checks and ensure you’re always meeting safety standards.
