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Best practices for avoiding CVSA violations

March 20, 2024

With CVSA's International Roadcheck coming up in May, there are several strategies fleets can use to ensure they have a clean safety record.

Judith Monte

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), best known for enforcing motor vehicle and driver safety regulations across North America, can make or break a carrier’s reputation. CVSA checks cover vehicle upkeep, driver operating requisites, and recordkeeping. These checks are intended to unearth potential hazards, curb accidents, and boost industry-wide adherence. Let’s look at how CVSA inspections impact carriers of all sizes as well as some simple ground rules for passing inspections with flying colors.

Why you should care about CVSA inspections

In the United States, CVSA inspections wield profound influence over trucking firms. Non-compliance or inspection failures entail severe consequences—penalties, fines, and even operational authority suspension. Such outcomes can dent a business financially and tarnish its reputation. Consistent inspection failures can further taint a trucking company’s CSA (Compliance Safety Accountability) scores, undermining contracts and client acquisition.

Strategizing for seamless CVSA inspections

Proactive measures are crucial to avoid non-compliance and failures at CVSA inspections, including:

Consistent Maintenance Practices: Establish a robust fleet maintenance regimen to make service timelines predictable and strategic. You can get ahead of maintenance burdens by using predictive maintenance tools to promptly address issues before they advance. This not only eliminates potential violation items, it also showcases dedication to vehicle dependability.
Empowering Drivers: Provide consistent driver education and training, and encourage open discourse to foster a safety-driven ethos. Invest in tools that automate what is otherwise done manually by the driver, to relieve daily maintenance burden.
Meticulous Record-Keeping: Maintain accurate records of driver qualifications, service hours, inspection reports, and other documents.
Thorough Pre-Trip Checks: Ingrain the practice of comprehensive pre-trip inspections before hitting the road. This not only boosts compliance but also prevents potential vehicle problems.

CVSA inspections significantly impact U.S. trucking companies with tires ranking high for violations in North America (19.3%) and even higher in Mexico (34%). NHTSA reports 33,000 accidents due to commercial vehicle tire blowouts annually in North America. Aperia Technologies’ Halo Tire Management solutions enhance maintenance, including the user-friendly Halo Drive app for tire pre-trip inspections. With tire failure causing most truck accidents according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, carriers should explore options for robust tire management. Halo Tire Inflator ensures proper tire inflation automatically, and the Halo Connect predictive analytics system offers real-time monitoring and diagnostics. This system promotes road safety and long-term success for carriers amidst the challenges of CVSA inspections.

About the Author

Judith Monte

Judith Monte is Vice President of Customer Experience & Marketing at Aperia Technologies. She has worked in the transportation industry for 25 years with a primary focus on uncovering and addressing client needs and creating personalized experiences that increase client value, loyalty, and retention. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Aperia Technologies offers the most comprehensive, user-friendly line-up of tire management solutions available to commercial fleets worldwide. With a million tires under management, Aperia leads the industry with active inflation and predictive maintenance technology. The company’s comprehensive suite of tire management solutions, capable of fully optimizing fleet tire management practices, includes Halo Connect® , Halo Trailer Connect, and Halo Tire Inflator® . All solutions improve fuel economy and road safety while reducing fleet tire expenses, downtime, and maintenance costs.