Truckers can now be placed out of service for these 4 violations

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has updated their out of service criteria — and here’s what you need to know.

The updated North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria for 2019 went into effect on April 1 and contained several changes to the standards that could result in a truck or driver being placed out of service.

Here are the major out of service changes that went into effect on April 1:

• DRIVER’S SEAT (MISSING), a. to provide an out-of-service condition for a missing driver’s seat. Drivers using a temporary seat rather than a permanent seat that is secured to the vehicle in a workmanlike manner was added to the out-of-service criteria.
• DRIVER MEDICAL/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, a. Skill Performance Evaluation Certificate by modifying the language. A driver who possesses a valid Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) but is not complying with the SPE requirements should be placed out of service.
• BRAKE SYSTEMS, g. Brake Drums and Rotors (Discs), (2) by adding language and a picture for cracks in structural supports of a brake rotor. If there are cracks through the vents in rotors, a collapse of the rotor is imminent; therefore, the vehicle should be placed out of service.
• STEERING MECHANISMS, h. Tie Rods and Drag Links, (3) to add an out-of-service condition for a non-manufactured hole. A non-manufactured hole in a drag link should be placed out of service.

Also significant among the updated criteria — the CVSA determined that it is “most appropriate” to remove an expired CVSA decal before applying a new decal.

The CVSA updates the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria every year with the new changes going into effect April 1.

You can click here for more information on this year’s changes to the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria.