The 16th annual International Roadcheck will be held June 3-5, 2003, throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Approximately 9,000 truck and bus safety inspectors will be on the job night and day at inspection sites along major highways. In addition, roving patrols will inspect commercial vehicles traveling other highways.
The annual 72-hour Roadchecks focus on the year-round commercial vehicle and driver roadside inspection program and draw the public's attention to the combined efforts of law enforcement and the truck and bus industries to save lives on North American highways.
Some three million roadside inspections were conducted in 2002 throughout North America by Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)-certified inspectors. Evidence of their success and that of the industry is demonstrated by out-of-service rates and crashes involving commercial vehicles, which have been continually declining over the past several years.
Roadchecks also provide an opportunity to distribute educational and safety information to the drivers. This year, drivers will receive information on the new hours-of-service regulations and new requirements for cargo securement in the United States, both of which will take effect in January 2004.
Nearly 50,000 vehicles and drivers were inspected during Roadcheck 2002, with both vehicles and drivers showing lower out-of-service rates than in previous years. About 200,000 pieces of educational literature on security awareness and hazardous materials safety were distributed to drivers in 2002.