CVSA Roadcheck 2026: Compliance and safety tips

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's (CVSA) International Roadcheck returns this year, taking place from May 12-14, 2026. During the annual three-day event, CVSA-certified inspectors conduct compliance enforcement* and provide educational initiatives for the benefit of carriers, vehicles and drivers.¹

The event brings together key organizations like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation of Mexico.

It's the largest program of its kind, with nearly 15 trucks and motorcoaches inspected, on average, every minute across North America during the three days.¹ 

CVSA Roadcheck focus areas in 2026: Cargo securement and ELD tampering

Every year, International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a category of violations — one pertaining to vehicle violations and the other to driver compliance — to bring awareness to particular areas.

The CVSA Roadcheck 2026 event focus is on cargo securement and electronic logging device (ELD) tampering, falsification and manipulation.²

In announcing the focus areas, the CVSA emphasized the serious risk both of these violations pose to drivers and other motorists. For vehicles, improperly securing cargo can adversely affect a vehicle’s maneuverability and cause loads to fall or become dislodged, resulting in roadway hazards or crashes.²

On the driver side, the CVSA noted that while falsification of ELD entries may occur when a driver doesn’t understand the federal regulations and exemptions, some are created purposefully to conceal hours-of-service violations or driving time.² The penalty for manipulating ELD logs is severe, including fines, potential criminal charges and immediate out-of-service orders.

During International Roadcheck, inspectors will check for false or manipulated entries while reviewing a driver’s record of duty status, with a focus on ELD tampering.

To check cargo, inspectors will look for properly braced and blocked loads. The CVSA provided some tips for securing cargo in commercial vehicles:

• Ensure the load (including debris, such as loose gravel, sand, etc.) is contained, immobilized and secured so it cannot leak, spill, blow off or fall from the vehicle; become dislodged from the vehicle; or shift to such an extent that it affects the vehicle’s balance, stability or maneuverability.
• Position cargo on flatbed trailers against a front-end structure or use additional tie-downs to prevent forward movement.
• Secure all dunnage and equipment such as tarps, blocks, chains or other tie-downs, spare tires, brooms, forklifts, pallet jacks, winches, ratchets, etc.
• Inspect tie-downs for wear and damage.

The CVSA also recommends that fleet managers review North American cargo securement standards and regulations relevant to their jurisdictions:

• In the U.S.: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cargo securement regulations and the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration hazardous load securement rules
• In Canada: National Safety Code cargo securement standards
• In Mexico: Normas Oficiales Mexicanas cargo securement standards

The American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria includes tiedown defect tables for chain, wire rope, cordage, synthetic webbing, steel strapping, fittings or attachments and anchor points.² 

CVSA Roadcheck inspections results 2025: Key violations and statistics

According to the CVSA, more than 56,178 inspections were conducted throughout Canada, Mexico and the U.S in total during last year’s Roadcheck.³ During CVSA inspections, nearly 1 in 5 vehicles (18%) had out-of-service (OOS) violations — down 5% from 2024 — while 6% of drivers were cited, up 1% from last year. These 10,148 commercial motor vehicles and 3,342 drivers were ordered off the road until the issues were addressed and the vehicles were deemed safe again. 

During the roadcheck, the CVSA categorizes violations up into several area. Though tires were last year’s vehicle focus area, brakes were once again the most heavily cited out-of-service violation, borne out by the CVSA brake inspection results. Brake system violations topping the list, and 20% defective brakes — a condition when 20% or more of the vehicle’s (or combination of vehicles) brakes have an out-of-service condition — coming in third. Together these violations count for more than 41% of the total out-of-service violations. CVSA tire violations sat between the two brake violations.

2025 Top 5 Vehicle Out-of-Service (OOS) Violations in North America

Vehicle Violation	# of Vehicle OOS Violations	% of Total Vehicle OOS Violations
Brake Systems	3,304	24.4%
Tires	2,899	21.4%
20% Defective Brakes	2,257	16.7%
Lights	1,737	12.8%
Cargo Securement	1,549	11.4%

The driver focus last year was false records of duty status (RODS) and 10% of all driver out-of-service violations were for false logs/RODS, which the CVSA considers "a serious violation" that "directly impacts safety, compliance and trust." Though not an out-of-service violation, 726 seat belt violations were issued as well.

2025 Top 5 Driver Out-of-Service (OOS) Violations in North America

Driver Violation	# of Driver OOS Violations	% of Total Driver OOS Violations
Hours of Service (HOS)	1,076	32.4%
No Commercial Driver’s License	810	24.4%
No Medical Card	493	14.9%
False Logs	332	10%
Suspended License/CDL	170	5.1%

CVSA examinations are broken down into different levels. Inspections performed during the International Roadcheck include:⁴

• Level I is a 37-step inspection procedure that involves examination of the motor carrier’s and driver’s credentials, record of duty status, the mechanical condition of the vehicle and any hazardous materials/dangerous goods that may be present. This is the most common inspection.
• Level II walk-around is a driver/vehicle inspection that includes items that can be inspected without physically getting under the vehicle.
• Level III is a driver-only inspection that includes examination of the driver’s credentials and documents.
• Level V is a vehicle-only inspection and includes all the vehicle inspection items.

Commercial motor vehicle carriers should be prepared to meet any of these inspections during the International Roadcheck. Vehicles that pass CVSA examinations may earn a decal, a colored sticker featuring the year of the inspection. It is valid for that month and two more months, during which a vehicle will generally not be re-inspected.⁴

Download this free CVSA inspection checklist to prepare your staff and drivers for roadside inspections. 

How to prepare for a successful CVSA Roadcheck 2026

1. First and foremost, make sure your truck drivers always wear their seat belts, and  always maintain a  professional attitude with law enforcement and inspectors.

2. During vehicle safety inspections, enforcement officials will check several systems and components, including:

• Brake systems
• Cargo securement
• Fuel and exhaust systems
• Lighting devices
• Tire, wheel, rim, and hub condition
• Suspension and more

3. Drivers should be prepared to provide the following items to inspectors:

• Valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
• Valid Federal Medical Examiner's Certificate
• HOS documentation
• Motor carrier registration
• Shipping papers/documentation

4. Drivers should also have at the ready:

• A copy of the company’s insurance certificate on hand
• A copy of the company’s hazardous materials certificate on hand (if applicable)
• A current, up-to-date permit book and skill performance evaluation (SPE) certificate (if applicable) 
• A charged and secure fire extinguisher in the tractor
• The required emergency equipment in the tractor (three reflective triangles)
• Proof of annual inspection for all equipment, including tractor/trailer

5. For hours-of-service, make sure drivers understand:

• What type of ELD is installed and how to operate it
• How to provide the inspector instructions
• How to display required and requested information

6. Prepare your equipment:

• Keep your vehicle as neat and clean as possible
• Conduct proper and thorough daily vehicle inspection reports

7. Pay particular attention to:

• Tractor protection system components
• Wheels, tires and rims 
• Vehicle lighting
• Brakes
• Cargo securement
• Any observable defects

8. For hazmat situations, make sure that:

• Placards are not damaged or missing and are on all four sides of the vehicle
• A current emergency response guide (ERG) is present in the cab
• Your shipping paper is accurate and contains:
  • UN or NA Identification Number
  • Proper shipping name
  • Hazard class/division
  • Packing group

See how you can streamline all your compliance needs with fleet management software with our free eBook.

How fleet technology can help keep fleets inspection-ready

Preparing for CVSA Roadcheck shouldn’t mean just fixing issues when an inspection is imminent. Fleets that use connected fleet management technologies to maintain vehicle, document compliance and improve day-to-day visibility are better positioned to be inspection-ready, anytime. Fleet technology can specifically help with this year’s Roadcheck in a few key ways:

Preventive maintenance and DVIR data help surface issues before they become roadside violations.

• GPS fleet tracking with connected maintenance features like engine diagnostics, mileage reporting and automated service alerts allows maintenance schedules to reflect how vehicles are actually used, not just fixed intervals on a calendar.
• Digital DVIRs create a more consistent record of reported defects, completed repairs and recurring issues, helping fleets demonstrate that problems are identified and addressed as part of a routine process.
• Centralized maintenance records and diagnostic trouble codes also reduce technician guesswork, making it easier to resolve brake, tire, lighting and mechanical issues before they appear on an inspection report.

Expanded vehicle visibility can support safer day-to-day operations leading up to inspections.

• Multi-camera systems like Verizon Connect’s Extended View Cameras provide broader views around the vehicle can help drivers and managers improve situational awareness during staging, maneuvering and loading activities, helping to reduce preventable accidents.
• Improved visibility can help drivers keep an eye on the loads secured before hitting the road.

ELD data helps reinforce hours-of-service compliance during inspections.

• FMCSA-certified ELD software simplifies roadside inspections by providing accurate records of duty status and clear documentation of hours-of-service compliance.
• When drivers understand how to access and present ELD data and managers can quickly verify logs, fleets reduce the risk of violations tied to missing, inaccurate or manipulated records.

CVSA Roadcheck is a high-visibility reminder that compliance shouldn’t be a once-a-year scramble. It is the result of consistent inspection, documentation and maintenance habits built into daily operations. Fleets that standardize DVIRs, stay ahead of preventive maintenance and keep driver records clean are better positioned to pass roadside inspections with minimal disruption.

Schedule a free demo to see how Verizon Connect Reveal helps fleets do all this through one integrated platform.

Sources

¹ CVSA International Roadcheck

² CVSA International Roadcheck 2026 Focus Areas

³ CVSA Releases 2025 International Roadcheck Results

⁴ Understanding the North American Standard Inspection Program brochure

*Verizon Connect does not provide legal advice and shall have no liability whatsoever for any damages that arise from, or are connected with, your use of this blog]. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for legal advice. You should consult your own legal advisors to seek the proper advice with reference to any compliance-related information in this blog.