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Friday Safety Brief
June 10, 2005
CVSA Inspection Levels
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is a non-profit organization of federal, state, and provincial
government agencies and representatives from private industry in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,
dedicated to improving commercial vehicle safety. The Alliance serves as the major focal point for bringing
together state/provincial officials with truck/bus industry interest and federal governments in a unique
discussion and problem solving interchange. They set the levels of inspections, which currently include:
LEVEL I :
North American Standard Inspection. An inspection that includes examination of driver’s
license, medical examiner’s certificate and waiver, if applicable, alcohol and drugs, driver’s record of duty status as
required, hours of service, seat belt, vehicle inspection report, brake system, coupling devices, exhaust system,
frame, fuel system, turn signals, brake lamps, tail lamps, head lamps, lamps on projecting loads, safe loading,
steering mechanism, suspension, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels and rims, windshield wipers, and
HM requirements, as applicable.
The North American Standard Inspection procedure is recommended for use by drivers, mechanics, and any other person
responsible for inspecting tractor/trailer combinations, and it may be used by State and Federal inspectors during some levels of
roadside inspections. The steps are as follows:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Choose the inspection site
Inspection Preparation
Greet and prepare the driver
Interview the driver
Collect the driver's
documents
(6) Check for presence of
hazardous materials
(7) Identify the carrier
(8) Examine the driver's license
(9) Check medical examiner's
certificate and waiver
(10) Check record of duty status
(11) Review driver's daily vehicle
inspection report
(12) Review periodic inspection
report
(13) Prepare driver for vehicle
inspection
(14) Inspect front of tractor
(15) Inspect left front side of
tractor
(16) Inspect left saddle tank area
(17) Inspect trailer front
(18) Check left rear tractor area
(19) Inspect left side of trailer
(20) Left rear trailer wheels
(21) Rear of the trailer
(22) Inspect right rear trailer
wheels, rims and tires
(23) Inspect right side of trailer
(24) Inspect right rear tractor area
wheels, rims and tires
(25) Inspect right saddle tank
area, right fuel tank(s)
(26) Inspect right front side of
tractor wheels, rims and tires
(27) Inspect double and triple
trailers
(28) Test low air pressure warning
device
(29) Check steering wheel lash
(30) Test air loss rate
(31) Inspect steering axle
(32) Inspect axle(s) 2 and/or 3
(33) Inspect axle(s) 4 and/or 5
(34) Check brake adjustment
(35) Inspect tractor protection
system (this procedure tests
both the tractor protection
valve and the emergency
brakes)
(36) Check fifth wheel movement
(37) Complete the inspection
LEVEL I I :
Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection. An examination that includes each of the items specified under the
North American Standard Inspection. As a minimum, Level II inspections must include examination of: driver’s license, medical
examinee’s certificate and waiver, if applicable, alcohol and drugs, driver’s record of duty status as required, hours of service,
seat belt, vehicle inspection report, brake system, coupling devices, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, turn signals, brake
lamps, tail lamps, head lamps, lamps on projecting loads, safe loading, steering mechanism, suspension, tires, van and open-top
trailer bodies, wheels and rims, windshield wipers, and HM requirements, as applicable. It is contemplated that the walk-around
driver/vehicle inspection will include only those items that can be inspected without physically getting under the vehicle.
LEVEL I I I :
Driver-Only Inspection. A roadside examination of the driver’s license, medical certification and waiver, if
applicable, driver’s record of duty status as required, hours of service, seat belt, vehicle inspection report, and HM requirements,
as applicable.
LEVEL I V:
Special Inspection. Inspections under this heading typically include a one-time examination of a particular
item. These examinations are normally made in support of a study to verify or refute a suspected trend.
LEVEL V:
Vehicle Only Inspection. An inspection that includes each of the vehicle inspection items specified under the
North American Standard Inspection (Level I) without a driver present conducted at any location.
This publication is provided for information purposes only and is not intended as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. This “Safety
Brief” is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or
Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.