The annual International Roadcheck event sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance took place in June in West Virginia and around the country. The nonprofit organization reports that 62,796 inspections were conducted, 42,236 of which were the comprehensive North American Standard Level I inspections.

By the end of the 72-hour long campaign, 3.4 percent of drivers and 21.5 percent of trucks were placed out of service. For the drivers who incurred out-of-service violations, logbook and hours of service violations were the main reasons. Almost half of the vehicles that were placed out of service had brake violations. According to the CVSA, the inspection totals were less than they were last year, and the percentages for driver and vehicle out-of-service orders were at historic lows.

For vehicle out-of-service orders, brake violations accounted for 45.7 percent of the total. Additional violations noted against vehicles included wheels and tires at 18.5 percent, vehicle lighting at 11.8 percent and cargo securement at 6.1 percent. The remaining orders, each of which made up for less than 5 percent of the total, included fuel systems, frames, exhaust systems, steering mechanism coupling devices and driveshaft.

According the CVSA, 1,436 drivers were placed out of service. Falsified logs made up 16.4 percent of the orders while hours of service accounted for 46.8 percent. Improper endorsement at 7.7 percent and disqualified drivers at 6.2 were other causes for suspending drivers.

Trucking companies have an obligation to ensure that their vehicles are always properly maintained.Negligent truck maintenance can lead to collisions that can severely injure occupants of other vehicles. People who have been harmed in such an accident may want to have the assistance of a lawyer when seeking compensation from the carrier for their losses.