Preparing for Roadcheck 2025: What carriers and drivers need to know

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck is here once again, and carriers across North America need to prepare for this annual three-day inspection blitz. With thousands of roadside inspections scheduled for May 13-15, motor carriers and drivers should understand what to expect in order to avoid costly violations and out-of-service orders.

What is Roadcheck?

Roadcheck is an intensive three-day enforcement initiative where as many officers as possible conduct roadside inspections across North America. The event primarily emphasizes Level I inspections, which involve a comprehensive examination of both driver credentials and vehicle condition.

For 2025, inspectors are focusing heavily on two specific areas: False logs and tire conditions.

These focus areas inform carriers where enforcement officials will be directing extra attention, but inspectors will still be checking for all potential violations.

Last Year’s Results

The 2024 Roadcheck resulted in 48,761 inspections, providing valuable insights into common compliance issues. Of those inspections, 9,345 vehicles (23%) and 2,290 drivers (4.8%) received out-of-service orders.

The top vehicle violations from 2024 included defective service brakes (25% of out-of-service violations), tire issues (20.8%), other brake system violations (18.3%), lights (11.6%) and cargo securement (9.6%). Notably, tire violations alone accounted for one in every five out-of-service orders issued, while brakes, tires, and lights collectively represented 75% of vehicle out-of-service violations.

For drivers, the primary violations centered around hours of service compliance, operating without a required CDL, missing medical cards, false logs and suspended licenses.

These statistics highlight the importance of focusing not only on the annual emphasis areas but also on perennially problematic areas like brakes and hours of service.

Preparations for Roadcheck 2025

Vehicle Readiness

Ensuring vehicles are properly maintained is critical before Roadcheck. Carriers should:

• Verify all vehicles are current on scheduled maintenance and annual inspections
• Implement a vehicle maintenance tracking system, such as J.J. Keller’s Encompass® Fleet Safety & Compliance System
• Pay special attention to tire inspections, given this year’s focus area:
  • Check tread depth to ensure it exceeds the minimums required
  • Inspect for condition issues like exposed cord, cuts, or gouges
  • Verify proper inflation using an accurate gauge when tires are cold

Driver Readiness

Drivers need refresher training on vehicle inspections, particularly focusing on:

• Conducting thorough pre-trip, en-route, and post-trip inspections
• Properly documenting defects on driver vehicle inspection reports
• Specifically examining tires for tread depth, condition issues, and proper inflation

This preparation requires a coordinated training and communication effort from carriers to ensure all drivers understand inspection expectations and procedures.

Driver Qualification and Credentials

With driver qualifications commonly resulting in violations, carriers should:

• Verify all driver qualification files are complete and up-to-date
• Confirm drivers have the correct license class and endorsements
• Ensure drivers have current medical certificates
• Remind drivers to carry all required credentials during operation

Implementing a back-office tracking system like Encompass can help carriers manage these compliance requirements more effectively.

Hours of Service Compliance

With false logs being a 2025 focus area, carriers should:

• Refresh drivers on hours of service regulations
• Audit driver logs prior to Roadcheck to identify and correct falsification issues
• Pay special attention to common falsification tactics:
  • Driving while logged out of the ELD
  • Ghost co-drivers
  • Improper edits that shorten or eliminate driving time
  • Misuse of personal conveyance
  • Paper log mileage discrepancies or dropped trips
  • Recording on-duty activities as off-duty time

Using exception reports and conducting supporting document comparisons can help identify and address falsification before inspectors do.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The consequences of performing poorly during Roadcheck extend far beyond the immediate violations and out-of-service orders. Carriers face:

• Lost revenue and increased costs from delays and unscheduled repairs
• Downgraded CSA scores from accumulated violations
• Potential for triggered compliance reviews or audits due to poor safety data
• Risk of receiving Conditional or Unsatisfactory safety ratings
• Potential loss of customers who require carriers to maintain satisfactory ratings

The ripple effects of violations during Roadcheck can impact a carrier’s operations for months or even years afterward.

Thorough preparation for Roadcheck 2025 requires a systematic approach to vehicle maintenance, driver qualifications and hours of service compliance. By understanding the focus areas and addressing common violation causes before inspections occur, carriers can significantly reduce their risk of penalties and operational disruptions. 

Remember that while Roadcheck lasts only three days, the habits and systems developed in preparation should become standard practice for year-round safety and compliance.