The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced that the 2017 RoadCheck inspection spree will be held June 6-8 this year.
Inspectors placed 21.5 percent of trucks that were inspected out of service during last year’s RoadCheck event. A total of 62,796 inspections were performed in 2016. Hours of service violations and logbook violations were among the top driver-related out-of-service violations. Brake violations made up nearly half of the vehicle out-of-service orders issued during the week.
Here are six areas of a truck to focus on to ensure you’re ready for this year’s RoadCheck inspection:
Brakes
Look for missing, non-functioning, loose, contaminated or cracked parts on your truck’s brake system. Be aware of audible air leaks around brake components and lines. Check that the slack adjusters are the same length and that the air chambers on each axle are the same size. Ensure the air system maintains air pressure between 90 and 100 psi and inspect any required brake system warning devices such as ABS malfunction lamps and low air pressure warning devices.
Tires, Wheels, Rims & Hubs
Inspect tires for proper inflation, cuts and bulges, regrooved tires on the steering axle, tread wear and major tread groove depth. Check sidewalls for defects, improper repairs, exposed fabric or cord, contact with any part of the vehicle and tire markings excluding it from use on a steering axle. Also inspect rims that are cracked or bent, have loose or damaged lug nuts and elongated stud holes, have cracks across spokes or in the web area, and have evidence of slippage in the clamp areas. Be mindful of lubricant leaks, missing caps or plugs, misalignment and positioning, and damaged, worn or missing parts on hubs.
Fuel & Exhaust Systems
Check your fuel tanks for loose, mounting, leaks or other conditions including loose or missing caps, and signs of leaking fuel below the tanks. For exhaust systems, check unsecured mounting, leaks beneath the cab, exhaust system components in contact with electrical wiring or brake lines and hoses, as well as excessive carbon deposits around seams and clamps.
Securement of Cargo
Check tail board security, end gate securement in stake pockets, and both sides of the trailer to ensure cargo is protected from shifting or falling. When your load is visible, check for proper blocking and bracing. It may be necessary to examine the inside of your trailer to assure that large objects are properly secured.
Steering
Check the steering lash by turning the steering wheel in one direction until the tires pivot. Then, place a mark on the steering wheel at a fixed reference point and turn the wheel in the opposite direction until the tires again start to move. Mark the steering wheel at the same fixed reference point and measure the distance between the two marks. The amount of allowable lash varies with the diameter of the steering wheel.
Suspension
Keep an eye out for indications of misaligned, shifted, cracked or missing springs, loosened shackles, missing bolts, unsecured spring hangars and cracked or loose U-bolts. It’s also important to check any unsecured axle positioning parts and look for signs of axle misalignment.
Talk to your local MHC dealer today to schedule an appointment and get RoadCheck ready!
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Sources:
http://cvsa.org/wp-content/uploads/Roadcheck-Checklist-for-Drivers.pdf
http://www.ccjdigital.com/brakes-hours-and-logs-lead-roadcheck-2016-violations/#
