From May 12–14, 2026, enforcement personnel across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will participate in the annual International Roadcheck-CVSA’s 72-hour, high-visibility inspection and enforcement initiative.

For fleets and drivers, this isn’t just another inspection blitz. It’s three concentrated days where compliance gaps surface quickly-and publicly.

What to Expect: The Level I Inspection

Inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a detailed 37-step process that includes:

Driver Examination

Inspectors will review:

• Driver qualifications and licensing
• Record of Duty Status (RODS)
• Medical Examiner’s Certificate
• Seat belt usage
• Skill Performance Evaluation (if applicable)
• Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status (U.S.)
• Signs of alcohol or drug impairment

If out-of-service (OOS) violations are discovered, the driver is placed out of service immediately and cannot operate the vehicle until the issue is corrected.

Vehicle Examination

Inspectors assess:

• Brake systems
• Cargo securement
• Coupling devices
• Driveline components
• Frame integrity
• Lighting systems
• Steering and suspension
• Tires, wheels, rims, and hubs
• Fuel and exhaust systems
• Windshield wipers
• Emergency exits and electrical systems (passenger carriers)

Any vehicle-related OOS violation means that equipment is parked until repairs are made.

A vehicle that passes a Level I or V Inspection without critical violations may receive a CVSA decal, valid for up to three months-signaling recent compliance.

2026 Focus Areas

Each year, International Roadcheck emphasizes specific violation categories. This year’s targeted areas are both familiar-and telling.

Driver Focus: ELD Tampering & Record Manipulation

This year, inspectors will be paying close attention to electronic logging device (ELD) tampering, falsification, or manipulation.

During inspections, enforcement will:

• Review RODS entries for accuracy
• Check for edited logs without required annotations
• Identify patterns that conceal driving time
• Evaluate proper use of exemptions

Last year, falsification of records of duty status was the second most cited driver violation, with 58,382 violations issued. Additionally, five of the top 10 driver violations were hours-of-service or ELD-related.

Some inaccurate logs stem from misunderstanding the rules. Others are intentional. Enforcement treats both seriously.

For safety managers, this is a reminder:
If your drivers don’t understand the rule-or if your system tolerates gray areas — Roadcheck will find it.

Vehicle Focus: Cargo Securement

Cargo securement remains a persistent and preventable problem.

In 2025:

• 18,108 violations were issued for failing to properly secure cargo against leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling.
• 16,054 violations involved unsecured vehicle components or dunnage.

Improper securement doesn’t just create violations-it creates roadway hazards, liability exposure, and crash risk.

International Roadcheck will place additional emphasis on:

• Proper tie-down counts
• Securement device condition
• Working load limits
• Dunnage placement and security
• Commodity-specific securement standards

What This Means for Fleets

International Roadcheck should not be treated as a three-day event. It should be treated as a stress test of your safety culture.

Ask yourself:

• Are drivers confident in how their ELD records are audited internally?
• Are supervisors reviewing logs with the same attention enforcement will?
• Are cargo securement practices standardized and verified?
• Are pre-trip inspections thorough — or rushed?

The fleets that perform best during Roadcheck are not scrambling in May. They are preparing now.

A Practical Recommendation

Between now and May 12:

• Conduct internal log audits focused specifically on edits and annotations
• Re-train drivers on common ELD mistakes and exemption misuse
• Perform spot-check cargo securement inspections
• Reinforce documentation discipline
• Ensure Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse queries are current

Roadcheck is highly visible, but the underlying goal remains constant: prevent crashes, injuries, and fatalities through proactive compliance.

International Roadcheck data will be collected during the 72-hour initiative and released later this year. As always, we will review the results and provide analysis for Pennsylvania carriers once the numbers are published.

Preparation is not panic. It is professionalism.

Make it Safe. Make it Personal. Make it Home.