Roadcheck 2016 Scores Record Low in Out of Service Violations

Photo via CVSA

For the second year in a row, out-of-service violations were issued at record-low levels by inspectors during the 2016 Commercial vehicle Safety Alliance International Roadcheck.

In Level 1 inspections, drivers were given out-of-service violations just 3.4% of the time and vehicles were placed out-of-service at a 21.5% rate. This just bested last year's rates of 3.6% and 21.6% respectively, which were also the lowest rates that CVSA had seen since 1991 when it began tracking data on violations.

The rate is important because the total number of inspections was also lower this year - 62,796 compared to over 69,000 in 2015 – so a lower total number of vehicle violations does not necessarily indicate a better result. Of the inspections, 42,236 were Level 1, which is the most comprehensive vehicle inspection level.

“CVSA's annual 72-hour International Roadcheck initiative highlights the commitment of our inspectors who work hard every day to ensure unsafe vehicles and drivers are removed from our roadways,” said Collin Mooney, CVSA executive director. “It's also an opportunity for our inspectors to inspect, acknowledge and document the safe, fit and compliant commercial motor vehicles traveling our roadways by placing a CVSA decal on the vehicle; indicating that a particular vehicle has passed CVSA's rigorous inspection standards.”

Brake adjustment and brake system violations were the most common reason for vehicle out-of-service violations this year, representing 45.7% of the total. The top driver out-of-service violations were for hours of service and false logs, representing 46.8% and 16.4% respectively.

Every International Roadcheck has a focus and CVSA chose to place a special emphasis on tire safety for 2016. Tire and wheel violations accounted for 18.5% of the total percentage of out-of-service violations. In the U.S., tire violations represented 13.7% of the out-of-service violations.

“International Roadcheck is an annual reminder of the diligence and dedication of ...Read the rest of this story

Grote Offers Snap-In Cover Plates for Lights

Grote's Snap-In Cover Plates are a quick and simple to install light cover for retrofits and lighting upgrades on commercial vehicles.

The cover plates feature snap tabs that accommodate plate thicknesses from .125 inches to .250 inches, reducing installation time by as much as 60%, according to Grote.

The plates are available in two standard sizes - 4-inch round, 6-inch oval - and colors - gray, black - and come in sets of two. Each set includes a foam gasket to minimize moisture intrusion as well as the standard Grote flange mounting hole pattern for screw mounting and added security.

Follow @HDTrucking on Twitter

CVSA releases 2016 Roadcheck results

A total of 62,796 inspections were conducted during this year's International Roadcheck enforcement campaign, of which 42,236 were Level I inspections, the most comprehensive vehicle inspection level. Of Level I inspections, 21.percent of vehicles and 3.4 percent of drivers were placed out of service due to critical item violations.

read more

DOT Announces Advisory Committee for Autonomous Vehicle Policy

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has announced plans to establish an Advisory Committee on Automation in Transportation to help frame federal policy on the development and deployment of automated transportation.

The Committee will assess DOT's current research, policy, and regulatory support to develop a strategy for safe and effective use of autonomous vehicles on public roads.

After analyzing available information, ACAT will present recommendations to the Secretary on automated and connected road and transit vehicle technologies, enhanced freight movement technologies, railroad automated technologies, aviation automated navigation systems technologies, unmanned aircraft systems, and advanced technology deployment in surface transportation environments.

ACAT will also focus on emerging and not-yet-conceived innovations to ensure that DOT is prepared for any unexpected and emergent developments in the autonomous vehicle space.

“This committee will help determine how, when, and where automated technology will transform the way we move,” said Foxx. “The Department has advanced some of the life-saving benefits of automated technologies, including automated vehicle policy, but we are looking outside the government for innovative and thoughtful leaders to uncover its full potential across all modes.”

DOT is currently seeking 15 individuals to sit on the Committee, looking for people with in-depth, cross-industry experience and perspective related to advanced autonomous vehicle technology and innovation. ACAT members will serve 2-year terms and will be nominated through an open process published in the Federal Register.

In September, DOT released the first federal guidelines for the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles, outlining a safety assessment process and setting the groundwork for a comprehensive set of safety standards at the state and federal level.

Autonomous vehicles are closer than you think, with Tesla recently announcing that all of its cars currently in production are equipped with full self-driving hardware. In a release, Tesla claimed that its current system was fully capable of self-driving ...Read the rest of this story

Trucking telematics: It’s not just about Big Data anymore

Skip Kinford, president and CEO of MiX Americas, a division of MiX Telematics, believes that in order for the trucking industry to avoid being overwhelmed by the “Big Data” flows being delivered by their read more

Purkeys debuts dual shield

Purkeys has developed the Dual Shield, which the company says will simplify adding electrical devices to heavy-duty vehicles and protect the source that powers them.

“The Dual Shield provides a single source with multiple protected ports for electrical devices,” Penray said. “It gives the vehicle two levels of protection to help counteract parasitic loads from these electrical systems: a low voltage disconnect (LVD) and a timed disconnect.”

read more

A “new jeep” gets ready to roll

One of the more interesting and indeed famous motorized vehicles in history is the jeep; a “jack-of-all-trades” piece of military equipment that became a legend in its own time and eventually spawned a civilian version that, to this day, still holds iconic off-road status in the automotive world.

read more