Tractor Protection Systems, Drug & Alcohol and CDLs
RoadCheck 2024 is set for May 14-16. Now is the perfect time to be sure your trucks and drivers are ready for this annual commercial vehicle enforcement blitz. This year’s focus is on tractor protection systems and alcohol and controlled substance use or possession. Inspectors will also check the expiration date, class, endorsements, restrictions, and status of drivers’ CDLs. They will also review medical examiner’s certificates and driver logs. Inspections will occur at weigh/inspection stations, temporary sites such as rest areas and during mobile patrols.
During RoadCheck 2023, nearly 60,000 commercial vehicles were inspected in the U.S., Canada and Mexico during the three-day inspection blitz, resulting in 116,669 total driver or vehicle violations – an average of nearly two violations for every commercial vehicle and driver inspected. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has provided an inspection bulletin outlining steps on how to properly check tractor protection systems.
With its focus on tractor protection systems, enforcement officials want to increase awareness for drivers, motor carriers, technicians, and other truck enforcement personnel of these critically important vehicle components - specifically, the tractor protection valve, trailer supply valve and anti-bleed back valve – components often overlooked during pre-trip and roadside inspections.
No driver plans for a breakdown, but every driver should be ready for one. Mechanical issues, tire failures, or other unexpected problems can happen when you least expect it. Knowing how to safely bring your vehicle to a stop and protect yourself and others can help keep a minor inconvenience from becoming a serious incident.
For truckers, testing for marijuana continues. Just as with testing for cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, and opioids, testing for marijuana will continue to be conducted on a pre-employment, random, post-accident, reasonable suspicion, and return-to-duty basis.
As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with tires, brakes, and overall vehicle condition. Summer heat doesn’t just stress drivers, it amplifies mechanical weaknesses, making maintenance and inspections more important than ever.