The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be repeating its annual inspection blitz during three days in June in 2017. For 72 hours, CVSA members across North America will conduct as many safety inspections on as many commercial vehicles as they can.
The primary focus of 2017’s blitz will be load securement. While inspectors will look at all potential safety violations, they will spend more time than usual ensuring that all the freight and equipment on commercial trucks are properly secured. The intent is to avoid the injuries and property damage that can result when improperly secured loads fall off trucks while they are in transit or these large vehicles are involved in accidents.
The alliance is a non-profit organization that has as its members both local law enforcement personnel and representatives of transportation industry. It has the authority to remove trucks from the road until safety violations are remedied. Drivers cited by law enforcement officials face fines and potential license suspensions in addition to lost income during the time their trucks are off the road for safety repairs.
The inspection blitz is driven by the damage, injury and death that poorly secured loads can play in commercial vehicle accidents. If cargo isn’t tied down correctly, it could potentially crush an occupant of a smaller car in an accident, or a sudden weight shift as cargo repositions could cause a truck driver to lose control. The current state of a truck’s safety equipment and the driver’s previous safety records are admissible evidence that can help prove fault or increase damages in a truck accident lawsuit filed with the assistance of an attorney.
