Inspection blitz kicks off next week

TORONTO (May 27, 2003) — Approximately 9,000 truck and bus safety inspectors will be patrolling North America’s highways next week, as the 16th annual International Roadcheck program kicks off between June 3-5.

The 72-hour inspection blitz is sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation in Mexico.

The organizations traditionally measure success of the program by demonstrating out of service rates, which have been continually declining over the past few years. Nearly 50,000 vehicles and drivers were inspected during Roadcheck 2002, with both vehicles and drivers showing lower out-of-service rates than in previous years.

The road checks also provide an opportunity to distribute educational and safety information to the drivers. This year, drivers will receive information on the new hours of service regulations and the new requirements for cargo securement in the U.S., both of which will go into effect in January 2004.

“Roadcheck is a critical and unifying presence for advancing commercial vehicle safety and reducing crashes across North America,” CVSA president and Ontario Ministry of Transportation enforcement director Peter Hurst said. “We are out there, and we are getting results.”