Unannounced hazardous materials safety check results

Inspectors conducted a total of 3,929 inspections on trucks carrying hazardous materials.

An unannounced safety campaign focused on the transportation of hazardous materials conducted this summer has resulted in the discovery of violations in nearly 15% of the commercial vehicles inspected. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) released the results of this five-day operation, which took place from June 10 to 14, with the participation of 45 jurisdictions from the United States and Canada.

During the initiative, known as the HM/DG Road Blitz, inspectors conducted a total of 3,929 inspections on trucks carrying hazardous materials. As a result, violations were discovered in 576 of these vehicles, some of which were placed out of service until the identified issues were corrected. The most common violation was related to transportation documents, which accounted for 169 cases across North America. Violations related to load and securing materials ranked second, with 116 violations recorded.

The main violations in the United States were as follows:

Transportation document violations: 108 violations
Load and securing violations: 72 violations
Bulk packaging marking violations: 40 violations
Bulk container placarding violations: 40 violations
Absence of PHMSA registration copy: 40 violations

The CVSA explained that load and securing requirements are crucial to prevent cargo from shifting during transportation, which could cause damage to the package or, in the case of hazardous materials, result in leaks and spills. Other common issues observed by inspectors included deficiencies in labeling, marking, and placarding of hazardous materials.

Road safety as the main goal of the campaign

Despite the violations found, most of the vehicles inspected passed the review. In total, inspectors issued 1,009 CVSA decals to vehicles that met safety standards, representing more than 25% of the vehicles inspected without any critical violations. This year, the number of inspections decreased significantly compared to 2023, when over 7,500 inspections were conducted, revealing 2,578 violations.

The primary goal of this annual unannounced campaign is to remove from the roads vehicles that do not comply with hazardous materials transportation safety regulations, emphasizing the importance of programs and regulations that ensure safe transportation. Additionally, it aims to recognize those carriers, manufacturers, and drivers who comply with regulations and raise awareness about the importance of proper training in the handling of hazardous materials.

The initiative was implemented by the CVSA’s Hazardous Materials Committee, which provides guidance and technical support on HM/DG to both the government and industry, with the goal of reducing incidents related to these materials and promoting uniformity and consistency in regulatory enforcement.