Energy On The Offensive™ #022 - Don't Give Them A Reason To Stop You

Happy July 4th. Thank you for what your company, drivers, and management do to keep our Country moving. Stay safe and enjoy this week’s post!

With CVSA’s Operation Safe Driver Week scheduled for July 7-13, we need to remember that a lot of roadside inspections start with a traffic violation, so we need to always conduct quality pre/post trip inspections and drive in a safe and responsible manner, to avoid providing the “easy” reason to get stopped for an inspection.

Last month we looked at the top 5 vehicle violations and #1 on the list was lighting violations, which are easy to catch and fix during your pre/post trip inspection. With that said, another easy to spot violation, is cargo securement for flatbeds. If you have a long load that goes from nose to tail, it’s not hard for enforcement to see how many straps/chains are visible. Enforcement knows that most flatbeds are 48 or 53 feet long. Then there is the “leaking and/or blowing” sand/dirt from dump type vehicles or tool and such on the catwalk behind the cab and/or under the deck or box.

No matter what type of vehicle you operate, just make sure all your lights are working and all cargo, tools, tarps and/or dunnage is secure. Remember, don’t give enforcement an easy reason.