The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance certifies officers to conduct routine and random inspections on truck drivers. These inspections verify the driver’s compliance and ensure they have the documents and registrations required to operate their vehicle. When would a CVSA decal be placed on your vehicle?
Custom decal stickers for trucks enhance brand visibility and help ensure compliance but they should not cover your CVSA decal or other official stickers that provide industry information about you and your truck. Federal Motor Carrier Authority Filings explores the CVSA decal’s purpose and how to obtain one.
CVSA decals indicate that you have passed a roadside inspection. CVSA officers conduct one of eight inspection levels to determine whether the inspected drivers meet the minimal safety standards detailed by the inspection level. However, they typically only provide these decals for levels I, V, and IV.
When you earn a decal, you won’t likely undergo the same vehicle inspection level for another three months. The decals only apply to inspections involving vehicles, not the drivers. Therefore, you might not pass the inspection if the officer discovers physical or cognitive concerns or finds record-keeping issues. However, your vehicle may still pass the inspection and earn one of the decals.
Decals come in one of four colors, indicating when the driver earned them:
Each sticker features a large, bold number at the top. The number reflects the last digit in the current calendar year. For example, you passed an inspection with flying colors in July 2024. Therefore, you’d receive an orange decal bearing the number 4 at the top.
You can get a CVSA decal by meeting most inspection criteria during an evaluation conducted by a certified officer. The officer must not find any significant violations during their investigation. Many inspections happen randomly.
A qualified officer might pull you over or engage with you at a weigh-in station or truck stop. Therefore, most drivers cannot predict when their next inspection will take place. However, you can stay prepared by:
You should also ensure that critical inspection items are in flawless working order. For example, bucking fuel systems, insecure cargo, and malfunctioning coupling devices will not only prevent you from earning your decal. The inspecting officer might also place your vehicle under an out-of-service order.
When would a CVSA decal be placed on your vehicle? You must meet all the following criteria:
Some truckers mistakenly make assumptions about the CVSA decals. However, drivers should remember that:
When would a CVSA decal be placed on your vehicle? An officer would supply the decal following the most recent inspection, depending on the annual quarter. Truck driver decals help officials identify and track an operator’s overall performance, attention to detail, and compliance.
FMCA Filings helps you comply with an easy-access portal and compliance checks.
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