The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the dates and focus areas for 2024’s International Roadcheck. This year, the event will be from May 14-16 and focus on tractor protection systems for vehicles and alcohol and controlled substance possession for drivers.
During the International Roadcheck, certified inspectors will perform 37-step, Level I inspections of both vehicles and drivers. These will take place at weigh and inspection sites, temporary sites, and while on mobile patrols. The data collected from the event will be released in Summer 2024.
The maintenance-related focus for this year is meant to increase awareness of tractor protection system components, the nonprofit emphasized in a press release. Inspectors will be paying special attention to the tractor protection valve, trailer supply valve, and the anti-bleed valve.
To help fleets and maintenance personnel prepare, the CVSA released an inspection bulletin outlining the requirements and testing procedures for tractor protection systems. Inspectors will look for air escaping from either the supply/emergency or service/control gladhand line of any vehicle equipped to tow an air brake-equipped trailer, which indicates the unit has a defective tractor protection system, placing the vehicle in an out-of-service (OOS) condition.
Read more: Brake systems, tires common violations for 2023's International Roadcheck
These expectations will be applied to every truck with an air brake system used to tow a trailer. However, trucks and buses that are incapable of towing trailers are not required to have these systems. Air-braked power units converted to tow trailers equipped with air brakes from a non-towing operation must also have these systems properly retrofitted into the air brake system.
Beyond tractor protection systems, inspectors will also examine many other critical vehicle components, ranging from brake systems and coupling devices to suspensions and windshield wipers. Motorcoaches and passenger vans will also be subject to emergency exits, seating, and electrical cables and engine and battery compartment system inspections.
Vehicles that pass Level I or V inspections without any critical violations may receive a CVSA decal that is valid for three months. Out-of-service vehicles will not be allowed to operate until the violation is addressed.
