Every year in Georgia and across the rest of North America, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance holds a 72-hour inspection blitz called the International Roadcheck. CMV drivers are stopped at random to see if they are in compliance with all driver- and truck-related federal regulations. If they fail the tests, they or their trucks are put out of service.
The 2020 International Roadcheck is set to take place from May 5 to 7. This is a month earlier than normal, but the CVSA explains that in May, the weather in certain jurisdictions is more favorable for the inspection spree. As with previous years, the majority of inspections will be Level I inspections. These 37-point inspections are the most comprehensive possible.
The truck-related side of the inspection will cover components like the brakes, fuel system, exhaust system, tires, suspension, brakes and lights. Inspectors this year will be especially attentive to whether drivers have the right requirements to operate their vehicle, including the correct class license and medical cards. They will also check for seat belt use and compliance with the ELD mandate.
The 2019 International Roadcheck resulted in more than 12,000 trucks and 2,700 drivers being put out of service. The most common violations among drivers were related to hours-of-service regulations at 37.2%, the wrong class license at 22.5% and falsified work logs at 14.7%.
When truck crashes arise because of a poorly maintained commercial truck or a drowsy driver violating HOS regulations, then victims may have good grounds for a personal injury claim. Before filing, though, they may want a lawyer to evaluate the case. Third-party investigators might come in to gather proof of the trucker’s negligence, including in-cab camera footage, work logs and truck maintenance records. Victims may leave all negotiations to their lawyer and consider litigation as a last resort.