Roadcheck happens every day

The annual DOT Roadcheck inspection starts tomorrow June 6th and will continue until June 8th

During the 72-hours period, 10 000 inspectors in North America will work tirelessly to assure commercial vehicles are in compliant with the safety regulations. This inspection spree is a joint effort of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and others. Every year around 60 000 - 70 000 commercial vehicles undergo inspection and the results of this annual event are significant to the industry. 

Last year more 62 000 inspections were performed (most of them Level 1 inspections, almost 42 000) The results - 3.4% of drivers inspected and 21.5 % of vehicles inspected were placed out of service. Drivers that have been on the road for a very long time know the risk is big and many of them choose to stay at home during that 3 days period. As one of the drivers on Reddit call it "the annual vacation time" This is no secret for the people in the industry, but this is also changing.  

Roadcheck can happen every day, everywhere. The federal authorities are aware of the fact a significant number of drivers prefer to "skip" that week. Therefore, according to a few experienced drivers, a large number of inspections also happen in the following weeks after the blitz. This is why every truck driver must follow the rules daily. The best practice is to be prepared all the time. 

States like Maryland, Utah, and Iowa, for example, are more strict than others. Driving trough there can get you in a random check. The probability of being inspected any other day in one of those states with intensive inspection activity is slightly lower than during the annual check. 

Overdriveonline.com had a very interesting research on Arizona called: "Arizona ground zero for truck enforcement" According to that research inspector in Arizona are encouraged to put more scrutiny on the log book than the truck. 

"Arizona is one among a select few states that are both heavy on the number of inspections it conducts and, where it finds violations, not shy about blemishing a trucker’s record when inspectors see problems. Its national rank in violations per inspection, No. 5, corresponds with its rank in inspections per lane-mile conducted in 2014, where it’s held steady for two years running"

The conclusion - if you don't want to get a violation, don't give the inspectors a reason to issue one. 

In different states, the emphasis is on different violations. So be ready from log books to equipment. 

Similarly, every year, International Roadcheck stresses on a different category of violations. This year`s special emphasis will be on cargo securement. According to CVSA some of the best practices for containing load might be"established by consensus by those who haul what you are hauling". If your shipment is more unique, find out what works best in this situation. You can download the CVSA Cargo Securement tips flyer here: 

http://cvsa.org/program/programs/international-roadcheck/cargo-securement-tips/ 

According to Expresstrucktax.com, a good think to do would be to replace your straps and tie downs. 

If the appear is worn you could get a violation. Besides cargo securement, the inspection will check also: brakes, coupling devices, fuel and exhaust systems, lighting, steering, suspension, wheels, rims, and hubs. The driveline/driveshaft, trailer bodies and emergency exits for buses.