CVSA Roadcheck 2019 is Right Around the Corner

Steering and suspension systems will be top of mind for inspectors

If you haven't already, now is the time to prepare yourself and your commercial vehicle for a North American Standard Level I Inspection.

From Tuesday, June 4th through Thursday, June 6th the 2019 Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) International Roadcheck will take place throughout North America. Over that 72-hour period, CVSA inspectors will be out in droves to verify your operating requirements and examine your vehicle's mechanical fitness.

Why focus on steering and suspension?

Just like how the 2018 International Roadcheck focused on hours-of-service compliance, this year's emphasis will be on checking steering components and suspension systems which are vital to maintaining a safe roadway.

In a recent American Trucker magazine article, CVSA president and Arkansas Highway Police Chief, Jay Thompson, stated "Not only do they support heavy loads carried by trucks and buses, but they also help maintain stability and control under acceleration and braking, keeping the vehicle safely on the road. Furthermore, they keep tires in alignment, reducing chances of uneven tire wear and possible tire failure, and they maximize the contact between the tires and the road to provide steering stability and good handling."

But steering and suspension checks are just one aspect of the 37-step procedure you can expect from inspectors during the 2019 Roadcheck.

Driver operating requirements for 2019 CVSA Roadcheck

Here's what you as a commercial driver need to ensure you have ready when it comes to the 2019 CVSA Roadcheck:

• Driver's license (showing operating credentials)
• Medical Examiner's Certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate (if applicable)
• Your record of duty status and vehicle inspection reports (if applicable)

Inspectors will also be checking you for:

• Seat belt usage
• Sickness or fatigue
• Apparent alcohol or drug impairment

Vehicle inspection checklist for 2019 CVSA Roadcheck

Other than the obvious check on the state of your steering and suspension systems, inspectors will be examining the following parts of your rig:

• Brake systems
• Cargo securement
• Coupling device
• Driveline/driveshaft
• Driver's seat
• Exhaust system
• Frame
• Fuel System
• Lighting Devices (headlights, taillights, stop lights, turn signals, and lights/flags for oversize loads)
• Steering mechanism
• Tires
• Van and flatbed trailer bodies
• Wheels, rims, and hubs
• Windshield wipers

CVSA stickers

If there are no critical violations found, you'll get a CVSA decal that shows you successfully passed the 2019 Roadcheck (for whichever inspection level was performed). This sticker will keep you from having to go through that same level inspection during the June 4th to June 6th, 2019 time period.

Stay safe out there!