North American Standard Inspection Levels

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North American Standard Inspection Levels
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North American Standard Inspection Program

• This program is designed to
• Improve commercial motor vehicle safety and
  promote uniformity in compliance and enforcement
• Minimize duplication of inspection efforts and
  unnecessary operating delays for the motor
  carrier industry

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Who Conducts NAS Inspections?

• NAS Inspections are conducted by highly
• qualified and trained state enforcement personnel.

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Inspection Standards

• Inspection standards are developed in partnership
  between the
• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
• Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

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Five Levels of Inspections

• Level I North American Standard Inspection
• Level II Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection
• Level III Driver-Only Inspection
• Level IV Special Inspections
• Level V Vehicle-Only Inspection

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North American Standard Inspection
Level I

• Examination of drivers license
• Medical examiners certificate and waiver
• Alcohol and drugs
• Drivers record of duty status
• Hours of service
• Seat belt
• Vehicle inspection report

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Level I
North American Standard Inspection

• Brake system
• Coupling devices
• Exhaust system
• Frame
• Fuel system
• Turn signals
• Brake lamps

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Level I
North American Standard Inspection

• Tail lamps
• Head lamps
• Lamps on projecting loads
• Safe loading
• Steering mechanism
• Suspension
• Tires

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Level I
North American Standard Inspection

• Van and open-top trailer bodies
• Wheels and rims
• Windshield wipers
• Emergency exits on buses
• Hazardous material requirements

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Walk Around Inspection
Level II

• Includes each of the items under the North
  American Standard Inspection
• The walk-around driver/vehicle inspection will
  include only those items which can be inspected
  without physically getting under the vehicle

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Driver Only Inspection
Level III

• A roadside examination of the following
• Drivers license
• Medical certification and waiver
• Drivers record of duty status
• Hours of service
• Seat belt
• Vehicle inspection report
• Hazardous material requirements

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Special Inspections
Level IV

• Inspections under this heading typically include
  a one-time examination of a particular item
• These examinations are normally made in support
  of a study or to verify or refute a suspected
  trend

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Vehicle-Only Inspection
Level V

• An inspection that includes each of the
• vehicle inspection items specified under
• the North American Standard Inspection
• (Level I), without a driver present,
• conducted at any location.

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Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance

• The CVSA is an organization of Federal, State
• and Provincial government agencies and
• representatives from private industry in the
• U.S., Mexico and Canada dedicated to
• improving commercial vehicle safety.

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How Does Enforcement Avoid Duplicate Inspections?

• Duplicate inspections are avoided by issuing a
  CVSA decal to vehicles that have recently passed
  an inspection
• Vehicles displaying a valid decal are generally
  not subject to reinspection unless there is an
  observed violation or defect
• If any violations occur, the decal is removed
  unless the vehicle is repaired on the scene

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How Do You Qualify for a CVSA Decal?

• A commercial vehicle may qualify for a decal if
  it passes an inspection
• Passing an inspection means that during a Level I
  or Level V inspection no defects are found
• Defects that are noted during a Level I or Level
  V inspection that are not critical inspection
  items shall not affect decal qualification

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Interpreting a CVSA Decal

• Inspection Quarters and Colors
• January, February, March Green
• April, May, June Yellow
• July, August, September Orange
• October, November, December White

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Thank you

• Every driver must go through an
• inspection at some point as long as you are
  properly prepared and following U.S. guidelines
  there should be no problems.
• Thank you for your time and attention.