Get Prepared for the 2026 CVSA International Roadcheck
Every spring, the commercial transportation industry gears up for one of its most important annual events: the CVSA International Roadcheck. From May 12–14, inspectors across North America will conduct thousands of checks on commercial vehicles and drivers, all with the goal of ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. With this year’s spotlight on ELD tampering and cargo securement, both drivers and fleet managers need to be fully prepared. In this post, we’ll break down what to expect during Roadcheck 2026, highlight the top areas of focus, and offer practical tips to help your team pass inspections with confidence.
In this issue:
- How to Properly Mark a Commercial Motor Vehicle.
- Saint Patrick's Day Drunk Driving Prevention - March 17.
- Join us for our 2026 Safety Seminar in Aurora, Colorado
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During this period, CVSA-certified law enforcement officers will inspect commercial motor vehicles and drivers at weigh stations, temporary inspection sites, and via mobile patrols to ensure compliance with all federal, state, provincial, and territorial regulations. Inspection data from the 72-hour event will be compiled and released later this summer.
Every year, International Roadcheck highlights specific areas of concern. This year’s inspection will focus on two key areas: driver compliance and vehicle safety.
The driver compliance focus for 2026 is electronic logging device (ELD) tampering, falsification, or manipulation. Inspectors will carefully review drivers’ records of duty status for false or manipulated entries, paying special attention to signs of ELD tampering.
Inaccurate ELD entries may occur due to a lack of understanding of federal regulations and exemptions. However, in some cases, drivers intentionally enter false information to conceal hours-of-service violations or manipulate records to hide driving time without indicating required edits, as mandated by federal regulations.
Last year, falsifying records of duty status was the second most-common driver violation, with 58,382 citations. In fact, five of the top ten driver violations were related to hours-of-service regulations or ELDs.
During the driver portion of the inspection, officers will review driver qualifications, licenses, records of duty status, medical examiner’s certificates, seat belt usage, skill performance evaluation certificates (if applicable), and Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status (U.S. only). Inspectors also screen for alcohol or drug impairment. Drivers found with out-of-service violations will be restricted from operating their vehicles.
The vehicle safety emphasis for 2026 is cargo securement. Improper or inadequate cargo securement endangers both drivers and other motorists by impacting vehicle handling or causing loose loads to fall, creating roadway hazards and increasing crash risks.
In 2025, authorities issued 18,108 violations for cargo not being properly secured to prevent leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling, and another 16,054 violations for improperly secured vehicle components or dunnage.
During the vehicle inspection, inspectors will examine systems including brakes, cargo securement, coupling devices, driveline and driveshaft components, driver’s seat, fuel and exhaust systems, frames, lighting, steering, suspension, tires, wheels, rims, hubs, and windshield wipers.
For motorcoaches, buses, and other passenger vehicles, inspections also cover emergency exits, seating, and electrical systems in the engine and battery compartments.
If inspectors find out-of-service violations, vehicles will be removed from service and cannot operate until all issues are resolved.
Throughout the three-day event, inspectors will perform the standard North American Level I Inspection—a comprehensive 37-step process that examines both vehicle components and driver documentation.
For more details on Roadcheck 2026:
CVSA’s International Roadcheck Scheduled for May 12–14 – CVSA (Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance)
How to Properly Mark a Commercial Motor Vehicle
A commonly asked question is:
“What size do the letters and numbers need to be on the placard or marking on the side of my commercial vehicle?”
There are no specific size requirements, but the FMCSA addresses vehicle marking requirements. A commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) greater than 10,000 lbs will be marked as following:
The legal name or a single trade name of the motor carrier operating the self-propelled CMV, as listed on the Motor Carrier Identification Report (Form MCS-150) and submitted in accordance with CFR 390.19.
- The motor carrier identification number issued by the FMCSA, preceded by the letters “USDOT.”
- The city and state of the motor carrier are no longer required to be displayed.
The Marking Must:
- Appear on both sides of the self-propelled CMV.
- Be in letters that contrast sharply in color with the background on which the letters are placed.
- Be readily legible during daylight hours from a distance of 50 feet (15.24 meters) while the CMV is stationary.
- Be maintained in a manner that preserves legibility in accordance with the above requirements.
Construction and Durability
The marking may be painted on the CMV or may consist of a removable device, provided the device meets the identification and legibility requirements listed above.
Marking of Rented CMVs from Idealease
A motor carrier operating a self-propelled Idealease CMV under a rental agreement with a term not exceeding 30 calendar days meets the requirements of this section if:
- The Idealease CMV is marked in accordance with the marking requirements stated above.
- The legal name or a single trade name of the Idealease location is displayed.
- The Idealease location identification number, preceded by the letters “USDOT,” is displayed.
The Idealease rental agreement, entered into by the Idealease location and the customer renting the motor carrier, must conspicuously contain the following information:
- The name and complete physical address of the principal place of business of the Idealease customer renting the CMV.
- The identification number issued to the Idealease customer by the FMCSA, preceded by the letters “USDOT,” if the Idealease customer has been issued such a number.
In lieu of the identification number, the following may be shown in the rental agreement:
- Information indicating whether the Idealease customer is engaged in interstate or intrastate commerce.
- Information indicating whether the Idealease customer is transporting hazardous materials in the rented CMV.
- The following sentence must also appear in the rental agreement:
“That Idealease cooperates with all federal, state, and local law enforcement officials nationwide to provide the identity of Idealease customers who operate the Idealease rental CMV.”
The rental agreement between Idealease and the customer must be carried in the rental CMV for the full term of the rental agreement.
Saint Patrick’s Day Drunk Driving Prevention – March 17
St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest holidays on our nation’s roads. During the 2017–2021 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6:00 p.m.
March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 272 lives were lost due to drunk-driving crashes.
Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving
Daylight Saving Time Begins Sunday, March 8
Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8 at 2:00 a.m. local time, when clocks are set forward one hour. This semi-annual change impacts millions across the country.
- Remind all drivers about the upcoming time change in advance.
- Advise route drivers that daylight conditions may shift depending on their schedules and stops.
- Take this opportunity to replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Sleep experts recommend at least seven hours of rest each night. On average, people get about 40 minutes less sleep on the Sunday night after the time change. Plan ahead to avoid fatigue by getting enough rest and giving yourself time to adjust.
Note that not all states observe Daylight Saving Time. Hawaii and most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation), as well as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, do not participate.
The 2026 Idealease/NPTC Safety Seminars Are being planned!
Idealease and the National Private Truck Council NPTC hosted 18 safety seminars in 2025. We are getting ready for the next sessions in the Spring and Fall of 2026. The one-day seminars will focus on basic safety and compliance, regulation changes and CSA. The seminars will be provided to all Idealease customers, potential customers and NPTC members at no charge. The seminar provides valuable information applicable for both novice and experienced transportation professionals.
Register for our Safety Seminar happening on June 11th, 2026 in Aurora, CO. Learn more about this event and register now
To register for an upcoming seminars in 2026, click on the following link.
http://www.idealease.com/safety-seminar-registration
*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.
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