Source: Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), “CVSA Releases 2026 International Roadcheck Results” (Aug. 25, 2026), and the 2025 results release (Oct. 7, 2025) for comparison. Roadcheck is a three-day enforcement and data-gathering blitz, not a random sample; inspectors choose which vehicles to inspect, so rates are not national averages. Percentages are CVSA's: vehicle violation shares are of all vehicle out-of-service violations, driver shares of all driver out-of-service violations (U.S. and Canada). CVSA reports the vehicle out-of-service rate as 23.5% of vehicle inspections and 19% of all inspections. * Rows marked with an asterisk are EHS Concepts calculations from the published figures.
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Brakes
- 5,451 brake-related vehicle out-of-service violations in three days
- 39.1% of all vehicle out-of-service violations
- No. 1 brake systems, the top vehicle violation again (3,379)
Start here: Buy two brake stroke gauges and train every driver to check stroke at pre-trip. Put “brakes” as the first line on your PM sheet.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 393.40–393.55, 396.3, 396.11, 396.17, 396.25 [FMCSA] · out-of-service criteria [CVSA]
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Tires
- 2,914 tire out-of-service violations, the No. 2 vehicle violation
- 20.9% of all vehicle out-of-service violations
- 4/32″ minimum tread on front tires of a truck, tractor, or bus (2/32″ on others)
Start here: Put a $10 tread gauge and a pressure gauge in every cab this week. Replace steer tires at 6/32 instead of waiting for 4/32.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 393.75, 392.7, 396.3 [FMCSA]
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Cargo securement
- 1,724 cargo securement out-of-service violations, the 2026 vehicle focus area
- 12.4% of vehicle out-of-service violations (No. 4)
- 50 miles within which the driver must re-inspect cargo and securement after starting a trip
Start here: Print a one-page tiedown chart for your most common load and tape it inside the toolbox lid. Throw out every strap with a cut or missing tag today.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 393.100–393.136, 392.9 [FMCSA]
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Lights
- 1,659 lighting out-of-service violations (No. 5 vehicle)
- 11.9% of vehicle out-of-service violations
- 1,514 lighting violations in the U.S. alone, No. 4 there (12.7%)
Start here: Buy one trailer light tester for the yard and stock spare bulbs and pigtails in every cab.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 393.9, 393.11, 392.7 [FMCSA]
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Medical certification
- 1,072 out-of-service violations for no medical card, No. 1 among drivers
- 27% of all driver out-of-service violations
- 493 in 2025, when it was No. 3; about 2.2x more in 2026*
Start here: Make a one-page list today: every driver, license type, medical expiration date. Put the next three expirations on the dispatcher's calendar.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 391.41, 391.43, 391.45, 391.51, 383.71 [FMCSA]
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Hours of service, false logs, and ELD tampering
- 929 hours-of-service out-of-service violations, No. 2 among drivers (23.4%)
- 266 false records of duty status (6.7%)
- 146 ELD tampering out-of-service orders, the 2026 driver focus (3.7%)
Start here: Every Monday, review last week's ELD edits and unassigned driving for every driver. Fifteen minutes.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 395.3, 395.8, 395.22, 395.34 [FMCSA]
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Licensing and English proficiency
- 620 no-CDL out-of-service violations, No. 3 among drivers (15.6%)
- 361 English proficiency out-of-service violations, No. 4 (9.1%), all in the U.S.
- June 25, 2025 when English proficiency became an out-of-service violation
Start here: Add GVWR and GCWR to your vehicle list today and match every driver to the trucks and trailers they are allowed to run.
Rules and guidance: 49 CFR 383.5, 383.23, 391.11(b)(2), 391.23 [FMCSA]
The full PDF adds, for each item, why it really happens, the rules in plain words, controls in hierarchy order, a 30-minute self-audit, who owns it and a toolbox talk starter.