International Roadcheck 2024 Results: Improved Safety Compliance

CVSA Data Exhibited a Slowdown in Carrier Activity

Top Trucking Violations for 2024:

As in previous years, defective brakes and tires were the most common reasons for OOS violations. The top five violations for vehicles in 2024 were:

1. Defective service brakes
2. Tires
3. Other brake violations
4. Lights
5. Cargo securement

For drivers, the leading OOS violations were:

1. Hours of Service (HOS)
2. No Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
3. No medical card
4. False logs
5. Suspended license



While HOS violations remained the top reason for drivers being placed OOS, the overall decline in HOS violations compared to 2023 indicates that drivers are increasingly adhering to regulations.

Fewer Drivers, Fewer Violations

One of the most significant findings was that Hours of Service (HOS) violations accounted for 32.1% of all out-of-service (OOS) orders against drivers in 2024, a marked improvement from 2023, when HOS violations made up 41.1%. This drop signals better compliance with HOS regulations, though it’s important to note that fewer drivers were on the road during the Roadcheck period.

The CVSA inspected 48,761 vehicles across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico during the 2024 Roadcheck, an 18% decrease from the 59,429 inspections conducted in 2023. This decline in inspections aligns with data from the Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI), which showed an increase in tender rejections by carriers, indicating many drivers chose to take a "vacation" during the compliance blitz.

Safety Compliance Sees Mixed Results

Despite fewer inspections, the percentage of vehicles and drivers found to be compliant remains noteworthy. In 2024, 77% of all vehicles inspected and 95.2% of drivers were free from violations that would have resulted in an OOS order. Comparatively, 2023 had slightly higher compliance rates, with 81% of vehicles and 94.5% of drivers passing inspection without OOS violations.



However, the flip side reveals that in 2024, inspectors still issued OOS orders to 9,345 motor vehicles and 2,290 drivers, citing a total of 13,567 vehicle-related violations and 2,714 driver-related violations. This translates to a 23% OOS rate for vehicles and a 4.8% OOS rate for drivers.

Sticker Issuance and Key Focus Areas

In 2024, vehicles that passed a Level I or Level V inspection without any violations received 17,395 compliance stickers, down from 20,151 in 2023. These stickers, while not guaranteeing exemption from future inspections, serve as a deterrent to reinspection for the month they are issued and the following two months.

The focus of the 2024 Roadcheck for drivers was on drug and alcohol compliance, with 63 drivers placed OOS due to being listed in the federal Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. Drivers can exit the Clearinghouse after meeting specific requirements. For vehicles, the emphasis was on tractor protection systems, particularly those protecting air brakes in the event of a separation between the tractor and trailer.

Supply Chain Impact

The drop in inspections and the rise in tender rejections during Roadcheck 2024 highlights a shift in driver behavior. FreightWaves’ Outbound Tender Rejection Index (OTRI) data suggested that more freight was rejected during Roadcheck this year, with the OTRI rising from 2.2% in early May to 4.4% by the end of the month. This rise reflects that many carriers opted to halt operations during the three-day event, and some were slow to return to the road after it ended.

The 2024 Roadcheck results underscore the complexity of balancing safety regulations with market realities. While compliance rates have improved in some areas, the reduction in inspections and the reluctance of many drivers to participate in the event suggest that carriers may be increasingly cautious during periods of heightened enforcement. As the industry moves forward, this balance between safety and operational efficiency will continue to evolve.