Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) performs a “road check blitz” throughout California and the rest of the United States. The blitz involves performing inspections on commercial trucks throughout the nation. As a result of the 2020 blitz, over 12,000 vehicles have been placed out of service for safety violations.
What were some of the most common violations?
Brake system violations were the most common, with over 3,000 commercial trucks placed out of service for faulty breaks. Faulty breaks on a car are bad enough, but since trucks are so much larger and heavier, a brake malfunction on the highway could be deadly. Tire issues were the second most common violation, with over 2,000 vehicles failing the tire inspection.
Lights, brake adjustment and cargo securement rounded out the top five violations. An issue with any one of these features could cause motor vehicle accidents, resulting in lawsuits for the trucking company. Over 700 trucks also reported seatbelt issues, which poses a danger to the driver.
The inspectors also evaluated the men and women driving these trucks. Overall, over 1,000 employees reported violating the federally mandated hours of service. Another 700 employees admitted to getting traffic tickets and using their phones while they were driving. Over 400 employees even submitted false logs to their employers. Nearly 700 employees were driving with the wrong type of license while over 100 were driving with a suspended license.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re not a truck driver, this might not mean much to you personally. If you’re like most people, though, you frequently share the road with commercial trucks. Most trucks are several tons heavier than your passenger vehicle. One wrong move and you could end up with serious injuries. Call an attorney if you’re ever involved in an accident with a truck.
