The annual International Roadcheck 2022 of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is approaching. The 72-hour enforcement period will begin on Tuesday, May 17, and end on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
You probably know how it works: Inspectors around North America are asking commercial motor vehicles to pull over for on-the-spot inspections to assure driver and truck safety over the next 72 hours. The CVSA highlights a particular topic each year: Lighting and hours of service compliance were the focus in International Roadcheck 2021. It was driver requirements in 2019.
Inspectors will pay special attention to wheel-end compliance this year, which covers a commercial vehicle’s wheels, hubs, and tires. According to the CVSA, “violations involving these components historically account for one-quarter of the vehicle out-of-service violations discovered during International Roadcheck 2022.”
During the inspection of wheel ends on a commercial motor vehicle, inspectors will:
- Check for cracks or unseated locking rings, studs, or clamps.
- Check for bent, cracked, or broken rims on the inside and outside wheel rims.
Check for loose, broken, missing, or damaged wheel fasteners and elongated stud holes. - Check spoke wheels for cracks across spokes and in the web area or slippage in the clamp areas.
- Check the hub for lubricant leaks, missing caps, or plugs.
- Check the inner wheel seal for leaks.
- Check the tire and valve stem for leaks.
- Check for proper inflation, cuts, and bulges on all tires, including the inside tire on a dual set.
- Check for regrooved tires on the steering axle.
- Check tread wear and measure major tread groove depth.
- Inspect the sidewall for improper repairs, such as tire plugs.
- Check for exposed fabric or cord.
- Check for tire contact with any part of the vehicle.
- Check for markings on the tire that would exclude its use on a steering axle.
Check for debris between the tires. - Check for tires touching one another or any part of the vehicle.
Inspectors will also look for any critical vehicle inspection item violations, such as:
- brake systems
- cargo securement
- coupling devices
- driveline and driveshaft components
- steering mechanisms
- exhaust and fuel systems
- tires, wheels, and windshield wipers, and will put non-compliant trucks out of service, meaning they won’t be able to operate legally until the problems are fixed.
Those that pass the inspection will be given a CVSA decal.
Driver qualifications and criteria, such as whether they have a valid CDL and a current medical certificate, will be scrutinized extensively during inspections. Inspectors will also search for indicators of fatigue, drug/alcohol abuse, or impairment, as well as correct seat belt usage.