International Roadcheck 2026: What fleets need to know before May 12

This year’s International Roadcheck runs May 12–14, 2026, across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It is the largest targeted enforcement program for commercial motor vehicles in the world, and with new focus areas on Electronic Logging Device (ELD) tampering and cargo securement, fleets have some fresh ground to cover in their prep. Here’s what the 72 hours of high-visibility inspections will look like, what inspectors are zeroing in on this year, and how to help your drivers and vehicles come through clean.

What is International Roadcheck?

International Roadcheck (sometimes called “DOT Week”) is a 72-hour inspection, enforcement, and data-collection initiative run by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). CVSA-certified inspectors work at weigh stations, roadside pullovers, and pop-up inspection sites to check commercial vehicles and drivers for compliance with federal regulations.

On average, nearly 15 trucks and motorcoaches are inspected every minute during those three days. Since the program launched in 1988, more than 1.8 million roadside inspections have been conducted.

Last year’s numbers give a good sense of what to expect: CVSA inspectors conducted 56,178 inspections. Most fleets came out in good shape: 81.6% of vehicles and 94.1% of drivers had no out-of-service (OOS) violations. Additionally, 16,521 CVSA decals were issued to vehicles that passed inspection. On the other side of the ledger, 10,148 vehicles (an 18.1% OOS rate) and 3,342 drivers (a 5.9% OOS rate) were restricted from further travel until their issues were corrected.

What do CVSA personnel inspect?

The go-to inspection during International Roadcheck is the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure with two major parts: the driver’s operating requirements and the vehicle’s mechanical fitness.

On the driver's side, inspectors review:

• Qualifications and commercial driver’s license
• Record of duty status (ELD and supporting documents)A L
• Medical examiner’s certificate
• Seat belt usage
• Skill performance evaluation certificate, if applicable
• Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status (DACH) for U.S. drivers
• Signs of alcohol or controlled substance impairment

On the vehicle side, inspectors examine:

• Brake systems
• Cargo securement
• Coupling devices
• Driveline and driveshaft components
• Driver’s seat
• Fuel and exhaust systems
• Frames
• Lighting
• Steering mechanisms
• Suspension
• Tires, wheels, rims, and hubs
• Windshield wipers

Passenger-carrying vehicles get additional checks on emergency exits, seating, and battery/engine compartment wiring.

Not every vehicle gets a Level I, though it is most common by far. Inspectors may also conduct a Level II: walk-around, without going under the vehicle; Level III: driver credentials and documents only; or Level V: vehicle-only, with no driver present. (A Level IV inspection pertains only to a one-time examination of a particular item, normally in support of a study or to verify a suspected trend.)

2026 focus areas: ELD tampering and cargo securement

Each year, CVSA places extra emphasis on one driver-related and one vehicle-related violation category. For 2026, the focus is on ELD tampering and cargo securement.

Driver focus: ELD tampering, falsification, and manipulation

Inspectors will be looking closely at duty status records for false entries, undocumented edits, and signs of tampering. Some inaccurate ELD entries come from simple misunderstandings of hours-of-service rules or exemptions. Others are intentional efforts to conceal driving time.

Last year, falsification of records of duty status was the second-most-cited driver violation, with 58,382 citations, and five of the top 10 driver violations in 2025 were related to hours-of-service or ELDs.

One worthwhile pre-Roadcheck step: confirm that your ELD is still on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) registry of approved devices. The agency removed several devices from the list within the past year.

Vehicle focus: Cargo securement

Improperly secured cargo can throw off a vehicle’s handling, and loads that shift, leak, or fall off create immediate roadway hazards. In 2025, inspectors issued 18,108 violations for cargo not secured to prevent leaking, spilling, blowing, or falling, and another 16,054 violations for unsecured vehicle components or dunnage. Flatbeds tend to get the most attention, but the rules apply to every type of equipment. Inspectors will check tie-downs, working load limits, and anything that could shift or come loose. (Tarps, chains, spare tires, tools, and pallet jacks all count.)

CVSA has published a 2026 focus-area flyer with prep tips for both categories. It makes a useful handout for your drivers.

What happens when I pass (or fail) the inspection?

Drivers and vehicles that pass a Level I or Level V inspection without any critical violations are eligible for a CVSA decal, valid for up to three consecutive months. The decal signals that the vehicle was recently inspected and came through clean, and a decaled vehicle will generally not be pulled over for reinspection during that window. If inspectors identify an OOS violation on either the driver or the vehicle, the operation stops until the violation is corrected. The carrier may also face fines, and results feed into CSA scores, which influence insurance costs and overall safety ratings over the long haul.

How can I prepare for Roadcheck 2026?

Looking at the 2025 data, the top OOS vehicle violations were brake systems (24.4% of all vehicle OOS violations), tires (21.4%), defective service brakes (16.7%), cargo securement, and lights. On the driver side, the leading OOS issues were hours-of-service violations (32.4%), no valid CDL (24.4%), no medical card (14.9%), and false logs (roughly 10%). There’s nothing exotic on that list, which is the point. Most of these issues are preventable with a little advance work.

According to Jenny Baker, Manager of Fleet Maintenance at Mike Albert, here are some things to address between now and May 12:

Get vehicle maintenance ahead of the inspection.

“CVSA updates its North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria on April 1 each year,” says Baker. “So, make sure your maintenance team uses the most current version.” Baker encourages a thorough review of brakes, tires, lights, coupling devices, and cargo securement hardware, in order to address worn parts, balding tires, or questionable brake friction before Roadcheck, not during it.

Audit ELD compliance.

“Confirm that your ELD is on FMCSA’s approved registry and has not been revoked,” says Baker. “Review driver training on logging correctly, handling edits, and properly flagging personal conveyance or yard moves.” Baker notes that inspectors can review up to eight days of logs during Roadcheck, so any inconsistencies from the week leading up to the event can still surface. So, a self-audit on recent records of duty status, looking for unassigned driving time or missed annotations, is time well spent.

Review cargo securement practices.

“CVSA’s baseline rule is that your securement system must meet at least half of the load's weight within the total working load limit,” says Baker. She recommends walking drivers through tie-down defect criteria, checking that equipment—such as tarps, chains, binders, blocks, spare tires, tools—is properly stowed, and reminding them to recheck loads during transit, as road vibration can loosen items. Baker also suggests carrying extra securement hardware in the cab. “It’s cheap insurance against a roadside surprise,” she says.

Put driver documentation in order.

“Every driver should have a current CDL, medical card, and any applicable SPE certificate in the cab,” says Baker. “For U.S. drivers, verify DACH status. A missing piece of paper can sideline a vehicle as fast as a bad tire.”

Use the CVSA cheat sheets.

“CVSA publishes a vehicle inspection cheat sheet and a driver inspection cheat sheet that spell out exactly what inspectors will be checking,” says Baker. “It’s a good idea to distribute them to drivers and maintenance staff so everyone is working from the same playbook.”

The broader point: International Roadcheck lasts 72 hours, but inspections happen every day of the year, and CSA scores are a year-round concern. Fleets that do well during Roadcheck usually treat every week like Roadcheck week.

How Mike Albert Fleet Solutions can help

International Roadcheck is a good reminder that compliance, maintenance, and driver safety are not one-and-done tasks. If your fleet could use a fresh set of eyes on preventive maintenance scheduling, DOT compliance, or telematics for tracking driver behavior, Mike Albert Fleet Solutions can help. Talk to a fleet consultant about where your fleet stands today and what a more proactive approach could look like before May 12 gets here.