The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) recently conducted an unannounced hazardous materials/dangerous goods (HM/DG) inspection blitz across Canada and the U.S., revealing significant compliance challenges. Over the five-day period, 14% of inspected vehicles were found with violations.
Key Findings from the CVSA Inspection Blitz:
- Inspectors examined 3,929 vehicles and 4,095 packages from June 10–14, 2024. Package Types Inspected:1,488 non-bulk packages2,218 bulk cargo tank packages389 other bulk packages
- 1,009 vehicles received CVSA decals, indicating no critical violations.
- 576 vehicles had HM/DG violations.116 out-of-service (OOS) loading and securement violations were recorded.19 packages were cited for leaking or integrity issues.
- In Canada, 79 violations were issued for training certificate non-compliance.In the U.S., 93 undeclared packages were discovered.
- By the numbers: The 2023 blitz inspected 7,572 vehicles, uncovering 2,578 violations, with 701 out-of-service violations.
- Canada (2023):1,449 vehicles inspected, 482 violations identified, and 163 out-of-service violations.
- U.S. (2023):6,123 vehicles inspected, 2,096 violations identified, and 538 out-of-service violations.
The bottom line: This inspection initiative highlights ongoing challenges in hazmat transportation compliance, particularly in package integrity, securement, and training certification. As safety remains paramount, organizations are urged to prioritize training and rigorous adherence to hazmat regulations to avoid penalties and improve overall safety standards.
Go deeper: For more information about the CVSA and its initiatives, visit cvsa.org.