Fuel for Thought

Business As Usual

The 2024 International Roadcheck has come and gone. As many of you know, this year’s roadcheck, AKA Safety Blitz, took place May 14 - 16. While many drivers consider it a blitz week, in reality, it only is scheduled for 72 hours or 3 days, just like it has been for years.

This year’s International Roadcheck was to focus on tractor protection systems and alcohol and controlled substance possession. For inspections in the U.S., there was an additional emphasis on prohibited drivers within the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Again, this year, like every year, I continue to work as usual, unlike many drivers who call this “vacation week” to avoid the enhanced scrutiny from law enforcement. Once again, last week’s International Roadcheck managed to reach completion without me, despite the fact that I again drove every day of it. There were some weigh stations where I got the green bypass light on my PrePass device, other scales that were closed, some that brought me into the facility only to send me through the bypass lane and only one weigh station that actually had me cross the scale only to get the green light to exit. Not one inspection during the 72 safety event.

Since I didn’t get inspected, no new yellow decal for me. I guess I will continue to look at what’s left of the white decal I still have from November of 2022. You can tell from the picture that it is from November. If you look closely, you can just barely make out the big number 2. 

For all of you “vacationing” roadcheck drivers, you can plainly see that it has been nearly 2 years since my last roadside inspection. 

Why so many drivers take the week off for these safety events to avoid them is beyond me, but I will help you plan your next “vacation”.

This year’s Operation Safe Driver Week is scheduled for July 7-13, 2024.

The next Brake Safety Week is scheduled for Aug. 25-31, 2024.

Of course you can always be stopped for a roadside inspection at any time, so perhaps a permanent vacation will alleviate your fears.

Inspections are just a part of trucking. We, as professional commercial vehicle drivers, are held to a higher standard than the general motoring public vehicles. Keep your equipment in good working order, operate it safely and you will not have to worry about law enforcement, their inspections or their safety events.

I’m sure I will get a new CVSA decal at some point, but until then, I will continue with business as usual.

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. 

  -  Mark Twain

See you down the road,

Greg

P.S. For those who didn’t know, each quarter of the year uses a different color decal. Go Your Own Way. Green - 1st Q, Yellow - 2nd Q, Orange - 3rd Q and White - 4th Q. Each quarter consists of 3 months. The first month of a quarter has two missing top corners on the decal. The second month of the quarter has one missing top corner and the last month of the quarter has no missing corners.