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Inspection blitz to focus on cargo securement

On Behalf of | Mar 17, 2017 | Truck Accidents |

West Virginia commercial truck drivers may be inspected at some point between June 6 and 8 as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s International Roadcheck inspection blitz. The focus for this inspection will be on cargo securement.

For the most part, these will be North American Standard Level I inspections. While cargo securement is a part of these inspections, the CVSA says that it hopes the emphasis will reinforce the importance of safety in this area. The 72-hour inspection blitz could potentially affect truckers throughout the country.

Effective cargo securement involves checking equipment and the load to make sure that everything is safely in place. Tie-downs should also be checked for damage and wear. There are a number of violations associated with improper cargo securement, and these include insufficient tie-downs, loose tie-downs, damaged tie-downs, failing to prevent shifting of cargo and failing to secure truck equipment.

Loose cargo could cause or exacerbate a truck accident. Since commercial trucks can be very large, other motorists face a higher risk in semi-truck accidents. Other drivers and passengers might face long periods of rehabilitation or be permanently injured in one of these accidents. Victims might assume that if the accident is the fault of the truck driver, their medical expenses and other costs, such as replacing their vehicle and lost income from work, will be covered. However, this may not always be the case. It might be necessary to file a lawsuit against the driver. The company the driver was working for at the time of the accident may also be liable.