Every roadside stop is one of eight standardized inspection types defined by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) and authorized under 49 CFR §396.9. The level determines what gets checked, how long you sit, and which violations land in your CSA record for 24 months. During International Roadcheck 2025 (May 13-15), inspectors performed 56,178 inspections — and placed 18.1% of vehicles and 5.9% of drivers out of service.
| Level | Official name | What is checked | Typical time | CVSA decal? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | North American Standard Inspection | Driver + full vehicle, 37-step procedure, including under-vehicle items | 45-60 min | Yes |
| II | Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle | Driver + everything visible without going under the vehicle | ~30 min | No |
| III | Driver/Credential/Administrative | Driver only: CDL, med cert, RODS/ELD, seat belt, drugs/alcohol | 10-15 min | No |
| IV | Special Inspection | One-time exam of a particular item, usually for a study | Varies | No |
| V | Vehicle-Only Inspection | All Level I vehicle items, without the driver, any location | 30-45 min | Yes |
| VI | Radioactive Materials Inspection | Enhanced Level I + radiological rules for transuranic waste and HRCQ loads | Several hours | Yes (Level VI decal) |
| VII | Jurisdictional Mandated | State/city programs: school buses, taxis, shuttles | Varies | No |
| VIII | North American Standard Electronic | Wireless data exchange while in motion, no officer contact | Seconds | No |
The 37-step Level I is the gold standard: license, med certificate, HOS, seat belt, alcohol/drug indicators — then brakes, steering, suspension, coupling, tires, lights, exhaust and cargo securement, including a look under the truck. Pass with zero critical vehicle violations and you get a CVSA decal.
Same driver checks, but only what can be seen without going under the vehicle — about 30 minutes. Chafed hoses, flat tires and dead lamps are found here. No decal: under-vehicle brakes were never verified.
The credential check: CDL and endorsements, medical certificate, hours-of-service compliance, ELD records, seat belt, carrier paperwork. Since June 25, 2025, this is also where the English language proficiency test happens — see the warning below.
A Level IV is a one-time examination of a specific item, usually part of a study. A Level VII is a state or local program outside the other levels — school buses, shuttles, taxis. Most interstate drivers never see either.
All Level I vehicle items without the driver present — often at a carrier's terminal during a compliance review. A clean Level V also earns a CVSA decal.
Since January 1, 2005, every highway route controlled quantity (HRCQ) radioactive shipment must pass a Level VI before leaving its point of origin — vehicle, driver and cargo must be completely defect-free. US DOE transuranic waste shipments go through the same program.
Conducted electronically or wirelessly while the vehicle is in motion, with no officer interaction: carrier authority, license status and ELD data are verified as you drive past. Deployment expands through bypass and telematics programs in 2026.
| International Roadcheck 2025 (May 13-15) | Result |
|---|---|
| Total inspections (US + Canada + Mexico) | 56,178 |
| Vehicle out-of-service rate | 18.1% |
| Driver out-of-service rate | 5.9% |
| Vehicles / drivers placed out of service | 10,148 / 3,342 |
| Tire OOS violations (2nd after brakes) | 2,899 (21.4% of vehicle OOS) |
The 2025 focus areas were tires and false records of duty status. Higher levels find more: a Level I with under-vehicle brake measurement catches out-of-adjustment brakes a Level II physically cannot see.
Only Level I, Level V and Level VI can end with a CVSA decal, and only with no critical vehicle inspection item violations. The decal is valid for the month of issue plus two following months — up to three months. A vehicle displaying a valid decal is generally not re-inspected. It is not immunity: obvious critical violations still get you stopped, and driver credentials can be checked at any time.
New carriers start with the Authority Bundle $799 — LLC, USDOT, MC Authority, BOC-3, UCR and Clearinghouse done right. Operating fleets use Safety Compliance from $189/month: driver files, drug program, HOS monitoring, DVIR and maintenance tracking, plus DataQ disputes. Before Roadcheck week, Mock DOT Audit $399 finds violations before the inspector does. For the full company audit, see what happens during a DOT audit.
Call (315) 871-0833 — Get Inspection-ReadyA 37-step procedure covering the driver (CDL, med certificate, HOS, seat belt, alcohol/drugs) and the full vehicle including under-vehicle components. Takes 45-60 minutes; a clean pass earns a CVSA decal.
Same driver documents plus every vehicle item checkable without going under the vehicle, in about 30 minutes. Under-vehicle components are not verified, so no CVSA decal is issued.
Only the driver is examined: CDL, med certificate, RODS/ELD, seat belt, drug/alcohol status, carrier documents — no vehicle check. Takes 10-15 minutes; violations feed only driver CSA BASICs.
Only Levels I, V and VI with zero critical vehicle inspection item violations. The decal is valid for the month of issue plus two following months, and decaled vehicles are generally not re-inspected.
56,178 inspections on May 13-15, 2025: vehicle OOS rate 18.1%, driver OOS rate 5.9%. Brakes were the top vehicle OOS category, followed by tires with 2,899 OOS violations (21.4%).
Yes. Since June 25, 2025, failing the English proficiency requirement of 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2) is a driver OOS violation. Two-step evaluation: interview plus highway sign recognition; no interpreters or apps allowed.
Yes. Clean inspections increase the inspection counts used in SMS, diluting your violation rate. Violations are weighted 1-10 by severity, OOS adds 2 points, and records stay in SMS for 24 months.
Correct the violations, certify them on the DVER and return it within 15 days per 49 CFR 396.9 (keep a copy 12 months). Dispute errors via FMCSA DataQs with photos and repair records.