Roadcheck blitz pulls nearly 12,000 trucks from service

South Carolina readers know that poor vehicle maintenance can lead to car and truck accidents. However, some commercial truck drivers and companies fail to properly maintain their vehicles, which can endanger the public.

For example, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance recently held its annual International Roadcheck inspection blitz and pulled nearly 11,897 trucks and buses out of service for critical safety violations. In addition, 2,664 drivers were taken off the road for hours violations or other issues. During the Roadcheck, which was conducted June 5-7, CVSA technicians conducted 67,502 roadside inspections. Of those, 45,400 were Level I inspections, which are the most thorough vehicle inspections available. According to the organization, 21.6 percent of all trucks that underwent Level I inspections were pulled from service. Meanwhile, 3.9 percent of drivers who were subjected to any level inspection were pulled from the road.

Of the out-of-service violations for trucks, 28.4 involved brake system issues, 19.1 percent involved problems with tires or wheels and 16.3 percent involved brake adjustment issues. Of the drivers who were pulled from service, 43.7 percent were sidelined for hours-of-service violations, 21.4 percent for having the wrong class of driver’s license and 10.1 percent for having a false record of duty status. CVSA inspectors will conduct another inspection blitz in mid-September. That initiative will focus on brake safety.

Improper vehicle maintenance leads to thousands of truck accidents every year. Victims of these accidents could be awarded a financial settlement by filing a personal injury lawsuit in court. Possible damages paid out in a truck accident case might include current and future medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering and property damage. An attorney may be able to evaluate a victim’s case and help gather documentation supporting the claim.

Source: Overdrive Online, “Hours of service, brake violations top Roadcheck out-of-service orders,” Sept. 12, 2018