Looking Ahead to Roadcheck Week
International Roadcheck Week is an annual event of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) during which tens of thousands of inspections are performed on commercial vehicles across North America. This year, Roadcheck will take place June 4th-6th. With the addition of the Memorial Day holiday and end of month, increased market pressure is expected. Understanding what’s coming and planning ahead can help to mitigate higher costs and potential service interruptions.
Memorial Day and End of Month
As shippers attempt to clear inventory and prepare for monthly accounting metrics, freight demand increases at the end of each month. During May 2019, Memorial Day and month-end fall in the same week, during which many businesses will only operate for four days.
Roadcheck Week
CVSA’s International Roadcheck Week for 2019 will take place the following week – June 4th-6th. During this 72-hour period, commercial motor vehicle inspectors will conduct inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers. The Level I inspection is a 37-step procedure and includes a thorough examination of driver operating requirements as well as vehicle mechanical fitness. Last year, more than 67,000 inspections were conducted. That’s an average of 15 inspections every minute! Each year, the CVSA places special emphasis on a violation category. This year’s focus is steering and suspension systems. Ensuring vehicle compliance is always part of the inspection program, but this year, steering and suspension are being highlighted as a reminder to drivers that they are critical systems when it comes to highway safety. If a critical violation is found in any part of the inspection, the driver, vehicle, or both may be placed out of service. During last year’s inspections, 21.6% of inspected vehicles were taken out of service. Every year during Roadcheck week, some carriers choose to stay off the roads to avoid inspections. Coupled with the number of trucks that will be placed out of service due to violations, rates are likely to rise. For more information on International Roadcheck Week, visit the CVSA website here.
How To Prepare
You might not be able to avoid all challenges caused by Roadcheck and the holiday weekend, but taking some steps ahead of time can help minimize their impact on your operations.
Adjust freight schedules where possible. If business allows, schedule the bulk of your pickup/delivery days for before the holiday weekend or after Roadcheck week. You can also better secure capacity by being flexible with pickup/delivery windows, drop trailer requirements, and transit times.
Consider alternative options. If your preferred delivery methods will be impacted, get ahead of it by talking with your carrier now about options – they’ll probably appreciate it, too. Secure capacity now at rates that will allow your carrier and broker to commit to being on the road during Roadcheck.
Being aware of an upcoming time of tight capacity – even if only for a few weeks – can be beneficial in helping to secure capacity and minimize surprises when it comes to your shipping budget. Reach out to your J.B. Hunt team and let us help you find the right solutions for your specific needs.