Semi tractor-trailer inspections over the past few years have highlighted dangerous trends: hours-of-service violations, falsified logs, and defective equipment, among others. The CVSA’s yearly International Roadcheck, which conducts thousands of commercial vehicle inspections in a three-day span, is scheduled for May this year.
Here’s what the event will focus on, as well as some of the trends identified by data from previous inspections.
What CVSA Roadchecks Reveal About Trucking Safety Issues
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has, since its beginning in 1980, conducted nearly 2 million roadside inspections.
The yearly International Roadcheck spans three days, usually in May, and is “the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world.” Throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, CVSA works with agencies like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to inspect thousands of semis and other heavy trucks.
It releases reports of its findings and identifies the top safety violations recorded. Each year, the International Roadcheck places a special emphasis on one category of driver safety and one category of vehicle safety.
The 2025 Roadcheck is scheduled for May 13-15, focusing on hours of service and tires.
“Law enforcement personnel will inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites and mobile patrols,” CVSA reported.
Since 1980, the CVSA has collaborated with government agencies and the trucking industry in the U.S., Canada and Mexico to improve road safety and save lives. It offers training programs and educational information, conducts inspections, and works to eliminate commercial trucking’s urgent issues.
Most Common Semi-Truck Violations Found in 2024 Roadcheck
Roadside inspections check for various safety infractions. There are dozens of possible violations, as established by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Out-of-service (OOS) violations are issued at inspections and immediately prohibit the driver or truck from operating.
Both drivers and vehicles can receive OOS violations, depending on what the issue is.
Top Driver Violations That Can Get a Truck Pulled Off the Road
During the 2024 International Roadcheck event, 2,290 commercial vehicle drivers faced violations and were thus prevented from driving. The most common OOS violation for drivers — making up 32% of all driver violations — was hours of service.
Hours-of-service violations are issued when a driver is caught exceeding the maximum drive time, failing to take required breaks, or not taking enough time off between drives. These rules are in place to keep drivers alert and awake while working. Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of semi-truck and commercial vehicle wrecks in the U.S.
Here are the other four leading driver violations:
- No Commercial Driver’s License (25.4%)
- No medical card (11.2%)
- False logs (10.9%)
- Suspended Commercial Driver’s License (5.1%)
Anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle — semi, 18-wheeler, dump truck, flatbed truck, etc. — must have a valid Commercial Driver’s License. Driving a heavy truck without a CDL or with a suspended CDL is typically illegal.
Another violation under the “driver qualification” category is failure to carry a medical card. All commercial motor vehicle drivers must carry with them a medical card issued by a physician certifying that they meet physical fitness requirements. Medical cards ensure that drivers don’t have health conditions that impair their ability to drive safely.
The false logs violation means a driver has forged their records of duty status. Today, commercial vehicle drivers are required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs), which are more difficult to forge than the traditional paper logs. Falsifying logs is unacceptable and results in an immediate OOS violation.
Top Truck Equipment Failures Found in Roadcheck Inspections
Vehicle violations in the 2024 Roadcheck more than quadrupled driver violations, with 9,345 commercial vehicles placed out of service across North America in three days. This means that about 20% of all trucks inspected had serious safety violations.
Here are the top five OOS vehicle violations recorded:
- Defective service brakes (25%)
- Tires (20.8%)
- Other brake violations (18.3%)
- Lights (11.6%)
- Cargo securement (9.6%)
According to federal regulations, “if the number of defective brakes on a vehicle is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle combination, it should be placed out of service.” This was the #1 reason for OOS violations in the 2024 Roadcheck.
Tires with inadequate tread depth, that are over- or under-inflated, have leaks, cuts, bulges or improper repairs may earn a vehicle an OOS violation. When semi tractor-trailers have tire issues, they may experience blowout, which leaves huge chunks of rubber in the roadway and can strike other vehicles.
Lighting violations are another common violation and may refer to burned-out bulbs, missing reflectors, or non-functioning lights. Commercial motor vehicles are required to have various lamps, turn signals, reflectors, hazard flashers, etc. If there are issues with the lights, trucks may be hard to see and cause life-threatening wrecks.
Cargo securement was the fifth-leading reason for vehicle OOS violations. When a truck’s load is off balance, not secured, unevenly fastened or loose, it can be catastrophic. Improperly loaded cargo can shift a semi’s weight and cause rollover wrecks, spill loads into the roadway, and cause serious crashes.
Are Trucking Violations Getting Worse Over Time?
In the CVSA’s yearly International Roadchecks, 40,000-60,000 commercial motor vehicles across North America are inspected. The results help us identify trending safety issues over time.
Each year since 2021, these driver and vehicle violations have been in the top five:
- Tires
- Lights
- Cargo securement
- Brake systems
- Hours of service
- False logs
- Suspended or revoked Commercial Driver’s License
Some of these issues seem to be getting better. The percentage of false logs violations dropped from 43% in 2022 to 26% in 2023 and, most recently, 11% in 2024.
Other issues, like tires, which hover at around 19% of OOS violations, and brake systems, consistently making up 25% of OOS violations, have not improved.
In the United States, large-truck wrecks are becoming more common. Fatal wrecks involving commercial motor vehicles increased almost 50% between 2012 and 2021. Issues like speeding, distracted driving and road rage, combined with safety violations like defective equipment and falsified logs, make our roads dangerous and, too often, deadly.
What to Expect from the 2025 CVSA Roadcheck
In past years, CVSA’s Roadcheck events have focused on lighting, wheel ends, cargo securement, alcohol and controlled substance possession, among others. The 2025 Roadcheck will emphasize tires and driver hours of service.
Department of Transportation roadside inspections can occur any time, not just during the International Roadcheck. About 3.5 million inspections are conducted every year. If a truck driver or his vehicle is found in violation of safety standards, it reflects poorly on his company.
Violations found during these inspections will affect the motor carrier’s CSA (Compliance, Safety & Accountability) scores. Good companies maintain low CSA scores, which shows that they prioritize safety and put qualified drivers and vehicles on the road.
If you’re a truck driver, you can prepare for roadside inspections a few ways:
- Never drive under the influence (or in possession) of drugs or alcohol
- Keep all of your documents (CDL, medical certificate, records of duty status, etc.) updated and handy
- Conduct regular vehicle inspections and maintain all equipment/machinery
- Secure your cargo properly before beginning a trip
Most semi tractor-trailer drivers pass inspections and can continue on their route. Being proactive and keeping your truck in good shape, driving safely, and following FMCSA rules are the best ways to stay out of trouble.
Get Help From a Certified Truck Accident Attorney Today
Unfortunately, unsafe truckers give their industry a bad name. Too many innocent people are killed or severely injured when drivers of heavy trucks make poor choices.
At Craig, Kelley & Faultless, our attorneys have experience representing the victims of these truck wrecks. You may be entitled to financial compensation to help pay for medical bills, lost wages and property damage.
Two of the firm’s partners are board certified in Truck Accident Law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Only four attorneys in Indiana have this certification.
Craig, Kelley & Faultless represents truck-wreck victims across the country, with attorneys licensed to practice in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa and Tennessee. Contact us today for a free case consultation at (800) 746-0226 or with our online form.
David W. Craig is a nationally recognized truck accident lawyer who sits on the Board of Regents of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys (which requires the board certification in truck accident law). He is the managing partner and one of the founding partners of Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC. He is recognized as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer and Top 100 Trial Lawyer in Indiana by the National Trial Lawyers, as well as a Top 50 Indiana lawyer by Super Lawyers. He was the recipient of the National Thurgood Marshall “Fighting for Justice” Award for his work helping victims of truck wrecks. David is the author of Semitruck Wreck, A Guide for Victims and Their Families, written to help people navigate a terrible situation by answering questions that come after a tragic wreck. He also hosts the podcast After the Crash, where you can gain valuable information about the dangers involving semis and large trucks that do not follow Indiana law safety protocol regarding speed, weather conditions, maintenance upkeep, etc.
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