The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is an international nonprofit organization made up of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico. Their mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement and industry policy decision makers.
In the early years, CVSA began as an informal get together of Western State agencies that were responsible for conducting commercial vehicle enforcement functions. The first meetings were held in 1980. Discussions were held to focus on areas of common need and to talk about how standards, procedures and methods could be created and utilized for success. A memorandum was developed to establish uniformity and reciprocity of on-highway enforcement and improve the safe operation of commercial vehicles.
By 1982, interest in membership for CVSA was high in Canada and the U.S. Also, many industry people, associations and businesses wanted to participate in the Alliance. In 1982, the By-laws were changed to create CVSA’s bi-national scope and added provisions for associate membership.
Each year the CVSA conducts its three day (72 hour) Road check inspection enforcement. This year, the event will begin on Wednesday, September 9. Approximately 10,000 CVSA – certified local, state, provincial and federal inspectors will perform truck and bus inspections throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The International Road check is the largest targeted enforcement conducted on Commercial Motor Vehicles in the world. During the three day event, inspectors will focus efforts on compliance, drivers, vehicles, cargo safety and security. Inspectors will primarily be conducting the North American Standard Level 1 inspection.
For me, the inspections are really no cause for concern. As drivers, if we are doing our job correctly, these issues on inspection are our responsibility and we should be vigilant in checking and taking action to effectively maintain our equipment, standards and procedures as professional drivers. This annual inspection is always a good reminder for us to check our license dates, permits, medical cards and make sure things are in order and current. If you happen to be one of the drivers who is pulled for inspection, having these items taken care of on your part will help make the process run smoothly.