Minimizing Violations at Roadside Inspections

Steve KepplerExecutive Director

Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

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About CVSA

• A non-profit 501(c)(3) trade association– 70 Members, 470 Associate Members, 25 Local Members– Began at industry’s urging in 1980 with several western States and Canadian

provinces

• Why was it initiated?– Safety was a concern ------ deregulation– Need for uniformity and reciprocity in regulation, standards, and enforcement

• How does it work?– Support from public and private sectors critical– All CMV disciplines at the table and involved in setting and maintaining the

standards– Focused agenda, clear expectations and results– Open the doors from the get-go– Processes and procedures for input and output are explicit and inclusive

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Special Committees• Driver/Traffic Enforcement• Hazardous Materials• Information Systems• Passenger Carrier

• COHMED• NAIC• Level VI

• Program Initiatives• Size and Weight• Training• Vehicle

• Operation Safe Driver• Operation Air Brake• Roadcheck• International Driver

Excellence Award

Programs

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CVSA also works strategically• Principal North America federal agencies are at the table

and engaged in the dialogue– FMCSA, FHWA, PHMSA, NHTSA, RITA, TSA, DOE (US)– Transport Canada, CCMTA (Canada)– SCT, Federal Police (Mexico)

• US Congress– Government Affairs– Legislative activity– Testify at hearings

• Association of Associations• Industry has a seat at the table and has a voice

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CMV Safety -- Unique relationships• Federal/State/Provincial relationships– MCSAP in U.S.

• $218M (FY2014) --- $8M in 1984– Additional $95M in other state grants

• 20% (minimum) State match– Many states put in MUCH more of their own $$

– Provincial-centric in Canada– Federal focus in Mexico

• Varying agencies in States (US) have responsibility– “Lead Agency” coordinates

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Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program

• Bulk of MCSAP $$ is Formula Based– Several state grants are competitive– Border, New Entrant, High Priority, CDLPI, SaDIP, PRISM, CVISN

• State has to produce an Annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan. – 49 CFR Part 350– Reviewed and approved by FMCSA

• Performance-based and data-driven.• MCSAP Program Elements

– Driver/Vehicle Inspections, Traffic Enforcement, Compliance Reviews, Public Education and Awareness, Data Collection

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CVSA Core Activities

• Roadside CMV Inspector Certification• The North American Standard (NAS) Inspection

Procedures– 7 inspection types

• NAS Out of Service Criteria• NAS Training Program• CVSA Decal Program

8 Technical Committees and 7 Programs that do the work

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Goals of the Roadside Inspection Program

• Remove unsafe carriers, drivers and vehicles from the highways.• Direct attention to the rules and regulations by requiring carrier

safety improvements, repairs of vehicle defects and appropriate remedial action for vehicle and/or driver violations.

• Document violations that might be used in subsequent enforcement actions.

• Obtain information regarding carriers, drivers, vehicles, and cargo relative to safety and compliance, and overall program direction and evaluation.

• Facilitate uniformity and reciprocity of the roadside enforcement program.

• Support on-going assessment of vehicle, driver and carrier safety posture.

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The Building Blocks

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Properly Secured Cargo?

Duct Tape really can be used for anything!

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“Lay of the Land”

• 13,000+ CVSA Certified officers deployed across North America– 800,000 law enforcement personnel

• Over 1,400 fixed facilities• 7 different inspection types• 4 million NAS roadside

inspections conducted annually

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Inspection Types• Level I – North American Standard Inspection• Level II – Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection• Level III – Driver-Credential Inspection• Level IV – Special Inspections• Level V – Vehicle-Only Inspection• Level VI – Enhanced North American Standard

Inspection for Radioactive Shipments• Level VIII – Jurisdiction Mandated Inspection

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What are we seeing Roadside?

• Vehicle issues– Brakes– Lights– Tires– Oil/grease leaks– No Periodic Inspection

• Driver issues– RODS F&M and not current– Speeding– English Language Proficiency– Seat belts– Medical Certificate– 14 hour rule– False logs

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2013 “Top 10” Vehicle Violations

2013 “Top 10” Driver Violations

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Critical Inspection Items• Brake system• Coupling devices• Exhaust systems• Frames• Fuel systems• Turn signals/brake/tail/head

lamps/lamps on projecting loads

• Steering mechanisms• Driveline/driveshaft

• Cargo securement• Suspensions• Tires• Van and open-top trailer bodies• Wheels, rims and hubs• Windshield wipers and

emergency exits and/or electrical cables/systems in engine/battery compartments for buses.

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“Crash Predictor Study”

• Top 10 behaviors linked to future crash risk

• 2011 Release date• MCMIS and CDLIS• 587,772 truck drivers

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More Driver Factors

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Inspection Tools

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Why Should You Care?– Safety is everyone’s responsibility– There is a connection between safety and

profitability– Driver and employee quality of life and retention – CSA and Interventions– Insurance and Business impacts– The Tortise and the Hare– View safety is an investment, not a cost• Make it a habit and not a fad

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Enforcement Works• Intervention Model measures the effectiveness of roadside

inspections and traffic enforcement activities.– http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/pe/IRModelPg.aspx

• Roadside Inspections helped to avoid 10,210 total crashes, 6,581 injuries and saved 387 lives.

• Traffic Enforcement accompanied by an inspection helped to avoid 9,761 total crashes, 6,292 injuries and saved 370 lives.

• Compliance Reviews helped to avoid 2,860 total crashes, 1,866 injuries and saved 109 lives.

• Based only on the benefits of the lives saved (866), the benefit accrued was $5.2 Billion– MCSAP funding…….less than $250 Million

• Each roadside inspection is worth $2,414.26 in safety benefits– Benefit to cost ratio is 18:1!

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Thanks and come join us!

– CVSA Workshop• April 12-16, 2015• Jacksonville, FL

– Contact info• www.cvsa.org• 301-830-6143