Arkansas Highway Patrol andCVSA President Major Jay ThompsonArkansas Highway Patrol andCVSA President

A Shared VisionMajor Jay Thompson

Arkansas Highway Patrol andCVSA President

About CVSA

• A non-profit 501(c)(3) trade association– 70 Members, 400+ Associate Members

• Began at industry’s urging in 1982 with several western States and Canadian provinces• Why was it initiated?

– Safety was a concern ------ deregulation– Need for uniformity and reciprocity in regulation, standards, and enforcement

• How does it work?– Support from public and private sectors critical– All CMV disciplines at the table and involved in setting and maintaining the standards– Focused agenda, clear expectations and results– Processes and procedures for input and output are explicit and inclusive

About CVSA• Charter• An organization of federal, state and provincial government agencies and

industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico dedicated to improvement of commercial vehicle safety

• Vision • The CVSA will be recognized as the international authority on commercial

motor vehicle safety and security. • Mission• To promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing

leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers.

CVSA Efforts

• State Permit Harmonization– CVSA supportive of initiative– Ongoing effort in collaboration with other entities– Discussed at CVSA S&W Committee meetings

• Pilot Car / Escort Guidance– Directive from NTSB– CVSA member participation in group

CVSA Size and Weight Policy

Previous policy:• No changes until completion of DOT study.

• New policy approved February 9, 2015– Developed by CVSA S&W Committee– Industry & Enforcement reviewed DOT study & discussed

appropriate position for CVSA on size & weight issues

CVSA Size and Weight Policy

No changes should be made without first giving consideration to whether or not:• Subject vehicles are actually designed and manufactured to accommodate the

additional weights they will carry; • Subject vehicles are being properly maintained, with particular attention paid to

the wear and tear of the vehicles’ mechanical and load bearing components;• Any new vehicle configuration meets safety performance requirements for the

roadways on which it is designed to travel, with consideration given to the possible impact to infrastructure and roadway design; and,

• A minimum set of performance requirements should be established for subject vehicles?

CVSA Heavy Vehicle Data Collection Effort

• CVSA overweight (permitted and non-permitted) study data were collected for 36 months

• Vehicles included in study were those over the allowable:– Axle weight; or– Axle group weight; or– Gross vehicle weight for the roadway on which it operated; or– Operating under a special permit for the weight

• 11,352 vehicles inspected• FMCSA analysis from this special study found 4,281 or 38% placed Out of

Service (OOS)

CVSA Heavy Vehicle Data Collection Effort

• FMCSA analysis found that whether or not the vehicle was permitted, made very little difference: – Permitted were 37% OOS, – Non-permitted were 38% OOS

• Top vehicle Out-of-Service Rates by violation category:– Brakes 13.7%– Brake Adjustment 8.3%– Tires 3.9%

CVSA Heavy Vehicle Considerations

• Tires– CVSA is exploring how we can better

enforce FMCSRs relating to tire overloading/underinflation. Unfortunately, 393.75(h) Tire Inflation Pressure is very difficult to enforce at roadside, and CVSA has supported a January 2014 petition by the American Trucking Associations to repeal 393.75(h).

CVSA Heavy Vehicle Considerations

• Tires– NHTSA is working on a possible rulemaking to require tire

pressure monitoring systems in commercial vehicles. CVSA hopes it can improve enforceability of under-inflation rules.

– Concerns were raised recently that some commercial vehicles are operated for extended times at speeds above maximum speed ratings for the tires on the vehicle, a potential source of premature tire failure. CVSA is following this issue closely.