CVSA sees inspector competition as snapshot of roadside environment

CVSA said the international event also develops future leaders, strengthens the industry and enforcement partnerships, and promotes camaraderie between inspectors, jurisdictions and countries. (The Trucker: BARB KAMPBELL)

The Trucker News Services

7/29/2010

WASHINGTON — While CVSA-certified inspectors representing 56 jurisdictions across North America get ready to compete in the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 18th annual North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 2-8, the organization sees the event as much more than a one-week competition.

Because CVSA works closely to monitor, evaluate and identify potentially unsafe transportation processes and procedures as well as to help facilitate and implement best practices for enhancing safety on our highways, NAIC provides the perfect opportunity to get a snapshot of the current roadside inspection environment, as well as a forum to evaluate both successes and areas for improvement, according to CVSA President Buzzy France.

In addition, the international event also develops future leaders, strengthens the industry and enforcement partnerships, and promotes camaraderie between inspectors, jurisdictions, and countries.

“Commercial vehicle inspectors have a huge responsibility in ensuring that the large trucks and buses that travel down roads alongside passenger vehicles are doing so safely by checking a vehicle’s brakes, tires, tiedowns, driver’s record of duty status as well as other critical items while conducting an inspection,” France said. “I applaud all of our NAIC competitors for their dedication to safety and on behalf of the entire industry, extend my personal congratulations to them for being the finest inspectors in North America.”

“FMCSA congratulates all of the dedicated and skilled commercial motor vehicle inspectors competing this year in Columbus,” FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro said.  “It is only through their day in and day out attention to detail that we set the bar high to meet our safety goals and reduce deaths and injuries on our roadways.”

 This year there are six candidates from Canada, three from Mexico and 47 from the U.S. The theme of NAIC 2010 is ‘Education, Performance, Uniformity, and Partnerships.’

NAIC’s purpose is to recognize the inspector for demonstrating inspector excellence.

NAIC contestants are evaluated in seven categories:

1. North American Standard Level I Inspection

2. North American Standard Level I Inspection Procedures

3. North American Standard HazMat/Transportation of Dangerous Goods Inspection

4. North American Standard Cargo Tank/Other Bulk Packagings Inspection

5. North American Standard Level V Passenger Vehicle (Motorcoach) Inspection

6. Personal Interview

7. North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Exam.

CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It’s mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers.

The Trucker staff can be reached to comment on this article at editor@thetrucker.com.