The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) announced its plans to postpone its annual spring International Roadcheck due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in North America.
The event had no definitive timetable for rescheduling when canceled in March; however, the group recently announced that it would take place Sept. 9-11.
International Roadcheck is a 72-hour high-volume inspection and enforcement initiative conducted throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
During the three days, CVSA-certified inspectors look for vehicle violations that fall outside the guidelines established by the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.
These events typically have an impact on the freight market. When combined with already high-volume conditions, we could see some substantial capacity and rate fluctuations.
What the International Roadcheck Means for You
During the days of, preceding, and after the CVSA’s yearly inspections, capacity tightens. According to an article published by FreightWaves, “An average of 17 commercial vehicles per minute are inspected throughout North America during the 72-hour period.”
That translates to service interruptions and can cause rate hikes for carriers because of their lost productivity during inspections.
Additionally, many commercial operators choose not to drive during an inspection. Compounded with the drivers and trucks forced off the road, this can significantly impact capacity.
One of Zipline’s mid-sized East Coast and Midwest-based carrier partners reported that the last year between 30-40 percent of their owner-operators were not in-service during an inspection period.
Owner-operators frequently opt to forgo a week’s worth of work rather than face potential fines that result from a failed inspection or other various violations.
Fewer trucks on the road mean limited available options to haul your order. This capacity thinning can translate into higher costs for customers booking freight.
According to data collected at Zipline Logistics, rates were inflated by an average of 6 percent during last year’s blitz. This number can fluctuate further in markets where capacity is strained.
Along with tighter capacity and higher rates, customers can also expect to see:
- An increase in transit time for orders
- Possible service failures
The Focus of the International Roadcheck
Additionally, these inspections have a specific focus and this year’s check will emphasize driver requirements. According to the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) data, of the approximately 3.36 million inspections conducted in 2019, 952,938 driver violations were discovered, of which 199,722 were out-of-service conditions.
“Although the coronavirus pandemic, understandably, shifted priorities and personnel during the spring, the commercial motor vehicle law enforcement community has reasserted its focus on the roadside inspection program and enforcement duties,” said CVSA President Sgt. John Samis with the Delaware State Police. “Jurisdictions are nearly back to their pre-pandemic capacity with a strengthened concentration on identifying and removing unfit vehicles and drivers from our roadways using federal safety standards and the out-of-service criteria.”
How Zipline Can Help with Tightening Capacity
Much like any other period where capacity is atypical, it pays to plan.
It is critical to adjust your shipments for a tight market that will be further disrupted. Reach out to Zipline today to discuss the steps you need to adjust to strained trucking capacity.
We can work with your organization to create scheduling, routing, or mode solutions for any foreseeable disruptions and keep your shipments moving.
Reach Out to Discuss How You Can Prepare for Blitz Week
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