Zhongnan Whale Navigation International | Key Points of US DOT Road Inspection Announced from May 13 to 15

From May 13 to 15, 2025, the key focus of the US DOT road inspection will be: working hours records and tire safety as core concerns.

Every May, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) collaborates with transportation enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to conduct the International Roadcheck, a three-day event. The 2025 inspection will take place from May 13 to 15, covering the entire North American continent, making it the largest commercial vehicle safety enforcement activity in the world.

According to the CVSA official website and the authoritative media TruckingInfo report, this year's inspection focus is on two aspects:

In recent years, the behavior of drivers exceeding driving hours and tampering with records has become frequent, posing a significant hidden danger to road safety. Therefore, the inspections in 2025 will focus on verifying whether the **Record of Duty Status (RODS)** of drivers is compliant, including but not limited to the following aspects:

Is the "Electronic Logging Device (ELD)" functioning properly, and are there any issues such as tampering, disconnection, or not being logged in?

Is there a phenomenon of "ghost drivers" with false records of co-drivers?

Is there an **abuse of the "Personal Conveyance"** function to evade regulation;

Whether there is improper use of exceptional driving conditions and other exceptions;

Whether the error is recorded as "rest" status during task execution.

In addition, law enforcement officers will also check the driver's:

Valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL);

Medical Qualification Certificate;

Alcohol/Drug Clearance Record;

Seat belt usage status;

Whether there are signs of drunk driving or drug driving, etc.

Tires are one of the most basic yet easily overlooked safety hazards of vehicles. According to statistics, tire failures are one of the main causes of road accidents and vehicle downtime. Therefore, this inspection will focus on the following aspects:

Whether the tread depth meets the minimum requirement;

Is there a hissing sound, insufficient tire pressure, or tire deflation?

Whether there are bulges, cracks, tread or sidewall separation;

Whether improper tire repairs have been made, such as the sidewall being sealed with rubber plugs;

Is there any foreign object stuck between the two wheels, causing potential risks;

Whether the tires have mismatches, abnormal wear, or visible structural damage.

To avoid vehicles being "stopped by the roadside" or receiving an on-the-spot "prohibition of operation (Out of Service)" penalty, it is recommended that logistics companies and drivers make the following preparations:

✅ Conduct a comprehensive tire inspection before driving: ensure the air pressure is normal, and there are no bulges, damage, or foreign objects;

✅ Regularly download and verify RODS data: ensure all records are compliant and devices are accurate;

✅ Train drivers to familiarize themselves with the latest compliance requirements and enhance self-inspection capabilities;

✅ Standardize the use of the ELD exception condition recording function to avoid violations;

✅ Keep all driving licenses and health records valid.

The 2025 DOT road inspection is not only a routine check but also a concentrated examination of the compliance operation capabilities of the entire logistics industry. Whether it is a large fleet or individual operators, only by ensuring that equipment is in good condition, records are accurate, and processes are standardized can they smoothly navigate through this "regulatory storm."

Official query guidelines reference: CVSA official website: https://cvsa.org/news/2025-road