This past Thursday, November 1, Kerri Wirachowsky, CVSA’s Roadside Inspection Program Director presented New CVSA Inspection Bulletins, Policies, and Proposed Out-of-Service Criteria. Kerri also recently partnered with us to present a webinar, Are You Ready for Brake Safety Week?
The purpose of this webinar was to review changes that resulted from the most recent CVSA Annual Conference in September in Kansas City. Here’s a brief run-down of the items that were covered during the presentation:
- Two new Inspection Bulletins
- 2018-04: Air Disc Brake Inspections – Intent is to point out specifically what inspectors should really be looking at and how they should be inspecting two different types of air brake systems, Direct-Mounted and Exposed Push Rod. Outlines all inspection components that an inspector (as well as a driver and/or mechanic) should be able to see to detect issues and defects. Great information for your mechanics as well as drivers!
- 2018-03: Doleco USA Textile Link Tiedown Assembly – Provides guidance on a new type of synthetic webbing used for cargo securement that is as strong as steel chains but weighs up to 85% less. If you are using or are interested in using, please see bulletin on guidance for use and on what to expect during an inspection of these new securement devices.
- Four new/revised Operational Policies (4,5,13,15):
(Note that these Operational Policies are accessible to CVSA members only. These can be found by going to your personal portal tapping Operations Manual from the list under your login information. From there, the new policies can be found inside the Operations Policy folder at the bottom of the page.)
- Operational Policy 4 Revision on Level II Certification. Added clarification for the ability for inspectors to use Level I as well as Level II Inspections to obtain Level II Certification.
- Operational Policy 13 on Selecting Vehicles for Inspection. Added to 10 already existing items for consideration and covers an officer not being able to randomly pull a driver out of the sleeper berth from a rest break status to do a random inspection, especially if the driver is legally parked and no issues are seen. Inspectors should not interrupt the driver’s rest break period if there isn’t a valid reason to do so.
- Operational Policy 5 Revision on Rear Impact Guards. Notation was added to bottom of policies that state when a required rear impact guard is inspected during a NA Standard Level I or Level V Inspection, a CVSA decal shall not be issued if violations are present.
- Operational Policy 15:
- Changes to Rear Impact Guards. Came from an increase in violations on certification labels on rear impact guards due to carriers having a difficult time maintaining and/or replacingthese labels.Guidance is for inspectors not to write a 393.86(a)(6) violation, but rather do a thorough check of the actual rear impact guard and write for actual issues other than for issues/defects with the certification label itself.
- *Edit* to Air Leaks and Bungee Cords and Tarp Straps. The edit to the Air Leak portion of Ops Policy 15 was in relation to Suspension leaks 393.207(f) being added to what is considered an air leak (wording added). Also edits that clarify when/if you can use tarp straps and bungees to tie down a load. The policy was rewritten significantly and is different if you are in Canada or in the U.S. (carriers need to know the differences if traveling between the two countries). Please see the policy for specifics (lots of information here).
- NEW direction on Oil and Grease Leaks. Pertaining to Oil and Grease Leaks(specific to the U.S.) stating that a violation should not be written until the seepage or leakage is great enough to form drops and a drip during an inspection as opposed to just wet. Endeavoring to quantify the violation for inspectors.
- Out-of-Service Items will become effective in April of 2019 and will be reviewed in a future webinar presentation as details become more available (do not want folks to implement prior to the effective date without all the criteria and details in place).
View the full webinar here.
For information about becoming a member of CVSA (you do not need to be in enforcement or a large carrier), please visit CVSA’s website.
Susan Reszczynski
Safety & Compliance Manager
Susan is responsible for the development and execution of EROAD's robust training program in the U.S. With over 10 years’ experience in the regulatory environment, Susan brings knowledge from both carrier and driver perspectives. Susan’s main objective is bridging the gap between customers, product developers, enforcement and regulators to ensure compliance and safety is achieved quickly, easily and with lasting results.
