2025 CVSA International Roadcheck Highlights Ongoing Vehicle and Driver Compliance Issues in Trucking

Under the Microscope: The 2025 CVSA International Roadcheck

Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) shines a spotlight on the trucking industry with its rigorous 72-hour inspection blitz. In 2025, the annual International Roadcheck took place from May 13 to 15, scrutinizing thousands of trucks and drivers across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This event is a crucial barometer for fleet safety and compliance, revealing both progress and persistent problem areas in vehicle and driver standards—problems that logistics professionals and fleet operators need to keep front and center.

Inspection Overview and General Trends

This year’s effort included a hefty 56,178 inspections, a noticeable increase compared to last year’s 48,761 but just shy of the 59,429 conducted in 2023. Impressively, 81.6% of vehicles and 94.1% of drivers passed the inspections without any major violations. However, a significant share—10,148 trucks and 3,342 drivers—were sidelined due to out-of-service (OOS) violations.

To put it plainly, that’s an 18.1% OOS rate for vehicles and a 5.9% rate on the driver side. Both show slight improvements from previous years, yet the numbers serve as a reminder that safety gaps remain wide open. For logistics planners and shipping coordinators, this means that vehicle maintenance and driver compliance can never be an afterthought if delivery schedules and freight integrity are to be maintained.

Focus Areas: The Usual Suspects—Tires, Brakes, and Hours of Service

CVSA zeroed in again on tires and false records of duty status (RODS), issues that have resisted quick fixes for years. Brake problems dominated the report, accounting for nearly a quarter (24.4%) of all vehicle OOS violations, and when including “20% defective brakes,” these issues represented over 40% of all OOS vehicle concerns. Tires came next, involved in 21.4% of violations with almost 2,900 incidents related to tire defects.

On the driver front, the spotlight remained on hours-of-service (HOS) violations, making up 32.4% of driver-related OOS cases. Following closely were drivers without proper commercial driver licenses (CDL) at 24.4%, and those lacking medical cards at around 15%. Notably, falsified logs remain a stubborn problem, responsible for 10% of all driver enforcement actions—a clear indicator that some corners are still being cut when it comes to honest record-keeping.

Seat Belt Usage Still a Concern

Despite ongoing campaigns emphasizing safety, seat belt compliance continues to lag behind expectations. Inspectors recorded 726 seat belt violations during the roadcheck, underscoring a vital safety gap that can mean life or death on the road. For logistics managers, ensuring driver safety gear compliance remains a non-negotiable part of risk management.

By the Numbers: Vehicle and Driver Violations Comparison

Hazardous Materials Inspections Spotlight Training Gaps

Inspecting hazardous materials transport revealed 177 out-of-service violations, with improper loading accounting for nearly 29% of these cases, followed by issues with shipping papers at 20%, and placarding at just over 18%. This data points to ongoing training and compliance challenges for carriers handling dangerous goods, reminding logistics operators that compliance here is critical not just for legal reasons but for public safety and environmental protection as well.

Upcoming CVSA Enforcement Events for 2026

• Operation Safe Driver Week: Anticipated July 12–18, 2026
• Brake Safety Week (Operation Airbrake): August 23–29, 2026
• Unannounced Brake Safety Day: A one-day, surprise inspection scheduled at an undisclosed time during 2026

These initiatives make sure safety inspections are an ongoing reality, preventing a “once-a-year scramble” mindset. For logistics and shipping managers, preparing year-round is the name of the game.

What This Means for Logistics and Fleet Management

The 2025 roadcheck underscores an industry truth: despite advances in technology and telematics, fundamentals such as brake upkeep, tire condition, and accurate record-keeping remain at the heart of safe operations. For freight carriers and shippers alike, ensuring every detail is buttoned up doesn’t just keep trucks rolling—it safeguards drivers, cuts insurance costs, and builds a reputation for reliability in the freight and shipment business.

Getting ahead of these issues — whether it’s maintaining the suspension or double-checking hours-of-service compliance — is the difference between smooth dispatch and costly downtime. After all, the old saying holds true: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” especially when it comes to logistics where timing and safety are king.

Why Personal Experience Beats All

Numbers, reviews, and compliance reports offer valuable insights, but they don’t quite capture what it feels like to navigate the complexities of freight transportation daily. Personal experience with timely deliveries, hassle-free moving, and reliable cargo handling is where the rubber meets the road.

Platforms like GetTransport.com empower logistics professionals and private shippers by providing access to affordable, global cargo transportation options. Whether you’re moving offices, transporting bulky goods, or organizing vehicle shipments, their transparent pricing and extensive carrier network minimize surprises and maximize convenience.

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Looking Ahead: Implications for the Global Logistics Scene

While these inspection results might not shake the entire global logistics landscape overnight, they are a crucial indicator of ongoing compliance and safety trends that ripple throughout North American freight and shipment networks. Staying informed means staying competitive—especially in a field where reliability and timely delivery are everything.

GetTransport.com keeps pace with these developments, offering users a seamless platform to plan, book, and manage cargo transportation with confidence. Start planning your next delivery and secure your cargo with GetTransport.com.

Concluzie

The 2025 CVSA International Roadcheck lays bare the persistent challenges trucking fleets face regarding vehicle maintenance and driver compliance. From brake troubles to hours-of-service and beyond, these issues underline the essentials of solid logistics and freight management practices. By addressing these ongoing pitfalls proactively, carriers can ensure safer highways, fewer disruptions, and smoother shipping operations.

Integrating reliable, well-maintained vehicles with thorough driver compliance is not just about passing inspections—it’s about building a logistics operation that’s resilient and trustworthy. Services like GetTransport.com make organizing and managing freight transport more accessible and cost-efficient, providing everything from bulky item haulage to international shipping under one reliable roof. In the fast-moving world of logistics, that kind of support can make all the difference.