Of the 71,630 drivers inspected in this year’s Roadcheck 2013 inspection blitz, 4.3 were placed out of service, with half of the out-of-service orders stemming from hours of service violations, said the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance this week.
The 72-hour event was held in early June, and out-of-service rates rose slightly from last year’s historically low 22.4 percent vehicle out-of-service rate and 3.9 percent driver out-of-service rate.
Of the 73,023 vehicles inspected this year, 24.1 percent were placed out of service, with brake-related issues making up 49.6 percent of the out-of-service violations.
CVSA, who organizes the annual inspection spree, said this year’s Roadcheck placed an emphasis on cargo securement, which accounted for 11.7 percent of the out-of-service orders issued. That percentage is down slightly from 2012’s 12.3 percent.
The out-of-service brake violations are broken down into two main categories — brake adjustment, which made up 19.5 percent of vehicle out-of-service orders, and brake system violations, which made up 30.1 percent of OOS orders. Light violations accounted for 12.6 percent of out-of-service orders, and tires and wheels made up 10.1 percent of OOS violations.
For driver out-of-service orders, 51.8 percent came from hours of service violations — in line with last year’s 50.2 percent — and falsified logs accounted for 13.2 percent. Disqualified drivers made up 10.2 percent of OOS orders, and suspended licenses made up 5.2 percent.
CVSA says that about 10,000 of CVSA and FMCSA inspectors perform inspections at 2,500 locations around North America during the annual event.