OTTAWA, — The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators reports that 80 percent of commercial vehicles inspected during this year’s international Roadcheck enforcement blitz passed inspections and demonstrated a high level of mechanical fitness.

The annual roadside safety inspection — coordinated by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) in concert with CCMTA member jurisdictions — was conducted across North America between June 6-8.

Vehicles were selected randomly at each location and subjected to CVSA on-road inspection procedures. As has been done over the last few years, only vehicles that did not display a valid CVSA inspection decal were inspected and reported on.

A total of 7,634 vehicles and drivers underwent full inspections for mechanical and driver fitness. Of those vehicles, 6,096 passed the rigorous inspection standards — 79.0 percent, compared with 81.4 percent in 2005 and 78.3 per cent in 2004. A total of 3.8 percent of drivers were placed out of service for logbook or documentation problems.

CTA is questioning Roadcheck’s linkage between
OOS rates and real life safety performance

In all, 1,498 trucks, 40 motor coaches and 296 drivers were placed out of service for various safety defects and violations. An out-of-service condition can occur for infractions as simple as a rear signal light not working to the extreme of faulty steering or brakes, which is the main OOS factor. Other defects include wheels, tires, frame and load security.

In many cases, drivers were able to make the necessary adjustments on site, were re-inspected, and continued on their trip.

While slightly increased from last year’s figure, the 20.1 percent out-of-service rate for this year continues an overall downward trend in the OOS rate over the last ten years.

However, while he was pleased the numbers confirm the trucking industry is still in “good shape,” Canadian Trucking Alliance CEO David Bradley questioned if the blitz has any value. He suggested that perhaps roadside inspections are less effective as a compliance tool than facility audits.

“Safety should be a 365 days a year pre-occupation. More recent research suggests there should be more focus on driving behavior by all drivers than on the mechanical condition of trucks,” he said in a press release.

The CTA has long questioned the methodology used during Roadcheck. First, points out Bradley, while CVSA states that vehicles are selected randomly, no statistics are kept on the number of vehicles waved through an inspection station and considered “passed” due to the presence of a valid CVSA inspection decal.

“A few years ago, at the industry’s request, these numbers were tracked and resulted in significant reductions in out-of-service rates. However, that practice was discontinued and the validity of the numbers has suffered as a result,” he said.

He also questioned the linkage between out-of-service rates recorded and real-life safety performance. An out-of-service condition can occur for very minor infractions — something as simple as a burned-out signal light bulb, he points out, adding that by the CCMTA’s own admission most drivers are able to make the necessary repairs on site.

“By not providing details on the number of trucks showing a valid CVSA decal, nor on the number and type of serious defects that resulted in a shutdown or tow-away, there is a real limit to what can be learned from Roadcheck,” he says.