The CVSA Roadcheck 2024 safety event is almost a month away, which means it's time to make sure your drivers have accurate, updated documentation to prove to inspectors that they are qualified to operate your company's commercial vehicles.
Not only will CVSA inspectors likely perform a Level One inspection on your vehicle but they will also require drivers to provide the following:
- Medical examiner's certificate and skill performance evaluation certificate (if applicable)
- Record of duty status and supporting documents
- Commercial driver's license or permit
Inspectors will also query the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse to ensure the driver has no violations and is not in prohibited status.
Avoiding DOT Medical Card Violations
All interstate drivers who operate vehicles that weigh 10,001 pounds or more are required to have a current medical card. This card must be updated every two years (or more often depending on the health conditions of the driver).
Because some drivers must have this card updated more often than others, renewal dates can be difficult for fleets to keep track of — making it a common place for violations to occur. For the past few years, this has been one of the most common violations during roadside inspections.
Not having a valid medical certificate in the Driver Qualification File has also been a top violation during safety audits.
In regards to the DOT medical card requirement, the best way to ensure that you and your drivers are compliant is to do the following:
- Make sure that all medical cards are valid. If the DOT med card expiration date is coming up, the driver should have a DOT physical scheduled to avoid a gap in compliance.
- Audit your DOT driver files to make sure there is a valid medical card on file for you and/or every driver you employ.
Preventing FMCSA Hours-of-Service Violations
Hours-of-service was the top driver violation category during Roadcheck 2023. Over 2,000 violations were cited by CVSA inspectors, which made up over 41% of the total driver violations from last year's roadside inspections.
Before Roadcheck 2024 inspections begin...
- Ensure your electronic logging devices (ELDs) are operating correctly in all of your company's vehicles
- Train drivers on using your ELDs so they can quickly provide inspectors with their driving records upon request
Steer Clear of Driver's License Violations
During Roadcheck 2024 inspections, CVSA inspectors will collect the commercial driver’s license from the driver and check the expiration date, class, endorsements, restrictions, and status.
Violations involving canceled or revoked driver's licenses accounted for nearly 8% of Roadcheck 2023 violations in North America.
Now is the time to check your employees' driver's licenses to make sure they are valid, and that all drivers have the proper endorsements to haul your company's specific types of freight.
Get Your DOT Driver Files Ready for Roadcheck Now
The easiest way to manage this process is to use automated compliance software (like Dash by Foley) that tracks driver file expiration dates and issues.
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