The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has introduced important updates to the out-of-service criteria (OOSC) for drivers and vehicles, set to take effect on April 1, 2025.
This year, the changes primarily focus on mechanical components, such as brakes, tires, and suspension elements, with minor adjustments to driver out-of-service conditions.
Notably, it will now be an out-of-service violation for a prohibited driver to accompany a driver in training, and drivers without a valid medical certificate will no longer be allowed to operate commercial vehicles transporting people or property.
Driver Out-of-Service Criteria Updates
A revision to Part 1, Item 3 of the North American Standard OOSC clarifies that "an accompanying driver of a driver with a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) cannot be unauthorized to drive for any reason," according to the CVSA announcement.
This update references the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) update in the Federal Register, which specifies that a CLP holder must be accompanied by a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder who is authorized to operate the commercial motor vehicle for that trip. In other words, if a driver is in prohibited status due to a reported substance or alcohol DOT violation, they cannot accompany a CLP holder for training purposes.
This update follows the new FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse-II regulation, which revoked the commercial driving privileges of prohibited drivers in November 2024.
In another driver OOSC update, medical certificates will be removed from Part I, Item 4 to clarify that the OOS condition is the same regardless of whether the vehicle is carrying property or people. The CVSA explained that "not having a medical certificate is an imminent hazard on the first offense for a driver, regardless of the type of vehicle being driven."
Vehicle Out-of-Service Criteria Updates
Brakes
One of the changes from this CVSA update involves brake systems. It introduces a new OOSC for inoperative brakes caused by an unplugged electrical cable and a disconnected service gladhand. This change could lead to fewer individual OOS violations, as it serves as a catchall for any number of inoperative brakes, rather than a documented violation for each inoperative brake.
The update also removes "hoses and tubing that are crimped in such a manner as to restrict airflow" as OOS conditions since crimped air lines affect the brake release more than brake application.
Tires
Numerous OOSC updates were applied to tires, including the following:
- If only the rubber of a mudflap is contacting a tire, this is not considered an OOS condition.
- A tire without an automatic tire inflation system (ATIS) is out of service if it has a noticeable leak in the tread area. Additionally, tires with leaks in the sidewall are considered an OOS condition, regardless of whether they have an inflation system.
- The separate OOS conditions for radial and bias tires were eliminated, combining them into a single section.
This update is especially timely, considering the vehicle violation focus area for the 2025 Roadcheck inspections is tires.
Suspensions
The CVSA clarified that cracked or broken u-bolt bottom plates should be considered an OOS condition. Additionally, CVSA added a note and updated a diagram "to help distinguish between the bolts and the bushings in spring hangers."
Rely on Foley for Regular CVSA Updates
With the 2025 CVSA Roadcheck event coming up in May, Foley will continue to provide updates from the CVSA and other federal agencies to help FMCSA-regulated companies stay on top of their vehicle and driver compliance and avoid critical and acute violations.
Check out the 2024 CVSA Roadcheck results to prepare for this year's roadside inspections and steer clear of the most common violations.
Foley's Dash Platform can help you comply with the latest FMCSA regulations, pass roadside inspections, and steer clear of steep fines resulting from violations. Get your free demo with a DOT compliance expert by clicking here.
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