Washington D.C. (May 30, 2025) – Law enforcement personnel in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. will conduct commercial motor vehicle inspections, educate drivers and motor carriers about the importance of brake safety, and provide brake inspection and violation data to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) for this year’s Brake Safety Week, scheduled for Aug. 24-30.
CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week, focusing on brake systems and components. In addition, inspectors will focus on drums and rotors – the emphasis for this year’s brake-safety initiative. Brake drum and rotor issues may affect a vehicle’s brake efficiency. Broken pieces of drums and rotors may become dislodged from the vehicle enroute and damage other vehicles or result in injuries or fatalities to the motoring public.
Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations, or any other out-of-service violations, will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.
During Brake Safety Week, inspectors will capture data about commercial motor vehicle inspections, brake systems and components, and brake-related violations and report that data to CVSA. Some jurisdictions will use performance-based brake testers (PBBT) to assess the braking performance of vehicles and submit PBBT-specific data to the Alliance. CVSA will collect and analyze all data and report the results publicly later this year.
In addition, brake-safety educational efforts by inspectors, motor carriers and others in the industry take place during Brake Safety Week and are integral to the success of the campaign. CVSA also offers resources to help drivers, motor carriers, owner-operators and mechanics prepare for Brake Safety Week.
Brake Safety Week aims to improve commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to eliminate roadway crashes by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, large- and small-fleet motor carriers, owner-operators, and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.
Register here
At the end of last year, looking ahead to 2025, the trucking industry was cautiously optimistic about the potential for freight rates and demand to rebound. The first quarter of the year, however, was rougher than expected due to a number of adverse factors, including ongoing freight market weakness, regulatory uncertainty and new tariffs that have roiled international supply chains. Traffic at some U.S. ports plummeted by as much as 30%. Truck manufacturers saw orders and sales drop as fleets grew reluctant to purchase new equipment. While port traffic is expected to surge in the near term since the U.S. and China agreed to pause tariffs, when will rest of the industry accelerate? How could the federal spending bill impact trucking? And what market trends should you be watching? ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello joins Seth Clevenger to break down current economic conditions and deliver his outlook for the back half of 2025 and beyond.
| Safety Culture: Transforming Fatigue Management from a Liability into a Competitive Advantage
Wednesday, May 14, 1-2 p.m. EDT
For Members and Non-Members
Learn how to foster a safety culture where drivers feel supported, recognize the signs of fatigue, and take appropriate action to prevent crashes and low performance. This webinar will cover the foundational elements of building an effective safety culture – accountability, behavior and communication.
Current Common Issues in Hazmat Transportation
Thursday, May 15, 1-2 p.m. EDT
For All Members
We will answer some common questions about lithium batteries, international shipments, inspection and regulatory guidance (CVSA Operational Policy 15), documenting violations on inspections, labeling vs. placarding of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), inspecting vehicles transporting hydrogen and manifolding IBCs.
2025 CVSA Workshop Review and Updates
Thursday, June 12, 1-2 p.m. EDT
For All Members
We will provide updates from the CVSA Workshop last month. We will go over actions by the CVSA Board of Directors, including updates to inspection bulletins and operational policies and an overview of letters and petitions.
CVSA’s Legislative Priorities and the Path to Reauthorization
Monday, June 16, 1-2 p.m. EDT
For All Members
Learn about CVSA’s current legislative priorities, including CVSA’s priority issues for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization legislation. The webinar will also provide an update on what to expect as the U.S. Congress begins working on surface transportation reauthorization.
The Scheduling Puzzle: Sleep Science and Driver Fatigue
Wednesday, June 25, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT
For Members and Non-Members
Recent National Transportation Safety Board investigations revealed the impact of irregular schedules. Join this webinar to learn practical applications of sleep science to scheduling and staffing. Understand how sleep architecture, circadian rhythm, sleep pressure and brain wave speeds affect a driver’s alertness to prevent crashes and maximize productivity.
Hazmat Employee Training Requirements
Thursday, June 26, 1-2 p.m. EDT
For All Members
All hazmat employees must have mandatory training outlined in the Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 172, Subpart H. We will review the four topics all hazmat employees must learn and look at the fifth topic – in-depth security training – and when that training is required. This webinar will include suggestions for best practices to implement in your training programs. |
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CVSA’s Upcoming Training Courses for Industry
| Hazardous Materials Instructor Training and Shipping Lithium Batteries Course
CVSA will hold a combined Hazardous Materials Instructor Training (HMIT) and Shipping Lithium Batteries Course May 19-23 in Dallas, Texas. In this course, hazmat instructors will learn how to set up a successful hazmat training program, gain the knowledge to confidently train hazmat employees on hazmat regulations, learn about lithium batteries and the process for shipping lithium batteries, and gain an understanding of the employers’ responsibility to comply with regulations and properly train employees. The deadline to register is May 9. Learn more and register.
Fatigue Management Program Roadmap Course
CVSA will hold its Virtual Fatigue Management Program Roadmap Course on May 21. This eight-hour North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) virtual training course will outline the main components of a fatigue management program and cover key fatigue-management educational and training elements. The deadline to register is May 19. Learn more and register.
Hazardous Materials Instructor Training Introductory Course
CVSA will hold its Introduction to HMIT Course virtually June 10-12. This three-day introductory Train the Trainer course will provide hazmat instructors with the tools they need to confidently train hazmat employees on the requirements in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Subpart H in Part 172. The course will include instruction, individual presentations, work projects, practical exercises, individual assignments and coursework, and a pre-test and post-test. This course also serves as a refresher course for current instructors who teach hazmat employees. The deadline to register is June 1. Learn more and register.
Industry Enhanced CMV Inspection For Autonomous Vehicles Training Course
CVSA will hold its Enhanced Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Inspection Training Course June 16-20 in Lewisville, Texas. This five-day training course will teach autonomous vehicle motor carrier personnel the inspection procedure, vehicle components and vehicle compliance requirements for CMVs equipped with automated driving systems. The deadline to register is May 30. Learn more and register.
NAFMP Train the Trainer Virtual Course
CVSA will hold its NAFMP Train the Trainer Course virtually on June 24. This course is for motor carrier instructors who conduct or expect to conduct fatigue management training for CMV drivers and their families. The deadline to register is June 20. Learn more and register.
U.S. Industry Roadside Vehicle Requirements Training Course
CVSA will hold a U.S. Industry Roadside Vehicle Inspection Training Course the week of July 28-Aug. 1 in Austin, Texas. This training course will provide motor carriers with the tools and knowledge to achieve compliance with roadside safety regulations and a better understanding of the relationship between vehicle regulatory requirements and vehicle out-of-service conditions. The deadline to register is July 16. Learn more and register.
Shipping Lithium Batteries Training Course
CVSA will hold its Shipping Lithium Batteries Training Course virtually on July 29. This course will introduce the hazmat employee instructor to the types of lithium batteries and common uses; lithium battery chemistry and safety; lithium battery classification in § 173.185, including exceptions; shipping papers, when required; marking; labeling; placarding; emergency response; incident investigation; materials of trade; and undeclared lithium battery shipments. The deadline to register is July 22. Learn more and register. |
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Land Line Staff
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has announced the dates for this year’s International Roadcheck.
The annual three-day “high-visibility, high-volume commercial motor vehicle inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement” is scheduled for May 13-15 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
During the 72-hour initiative, law enforcement members of CVSA across North America inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh and inspection stations, temporary sites and through mobile patrols to ensure regulatory compliance. The data is then compiled and released following the event.
Each year, CVSA selects focus areas for both driver and vehicle inspections during the enforcement blitz. Hours-of-service regulations will be the driver focus area for this year’s International Roadcheck.
During the driver portion of an inspection, CVSA officials will check the driver’s operating credentials, hours-of-service documentation, status in the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse and seat belt usage. They will also look for alcohol and/or drug impairment.
For vehicles, inspectors will focus on tire maintenance, checking tires for tread depth and proper inflation. Additionally, they will look for air leaks, tread separation, cuts, bulges, sidewall damage and improper repairs.
If an out-of-service violation is discovered during an inspection, the vehicle will be restricted from operating until all such violations have been corrected. Inspectors also may put a driver out of service for violations such as not possessing a valid or necessary operating license or exhibiting signs of impairment.
Vehicles that successfully pass a Level I or V inspection without any critical vehicle inspection item violations may receive a CVSA decal. Those decals are valid for up to three months.
CVSA said during this year’s event, inspectors may also be available to answer questions about tire health and violations, as well as to help drivers navigate the hours-of-service regulations in their jurisdictions.
During 2024’s International Roadcheck, CVSA officials conducted 48,761 inspections during the three-day window. From those inspections, over 95% of drivers were found to have no out-of-service violations. Additionally, 77% of vehicles passed their inspections without critical violations.
Understanding Future Changes to FMCSA’s Safety Measurement System – Part 1
Join the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a webinar series to learn more about upcoming changes to the Safety Measurement System (SMS) methodology used to prioritize carriers for Agency intervention. Part 1 of this series will focus on explaining the following three SMS enhancements:
- Reorganized BASICs (now called “compliance categories”)
- Violation Groups
- Simplified Severity Weights
Date: January 16, 2025
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Register Here
This event is a follow-up to the March 2023 webinar series that took place during the open comment period, when the changes were proposed. The approval of these changes was announced in the November 20, 2024 Federal Register notice.
Why is FMCSA updating SMS?
With input from all stakeholders—including government at all levels, industry, non-profit/advocacy, researchers, and the public—FMCSA has identified a set of changes that build on the sound design of SMS and improve its fairness, accuracy, and clarity.
Where can I learn about the approved changes?
All the forthcoming approved changes to SMS are explained in detail on the CSA Prioritization Preview website.
