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The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, Explained

Every roadside inspection ends with one big question: can this driver and this truck keep rolling? The answer comes from the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. This plain-language guide is from Steven Oliver, CSHO, a retired Texas DPS commercial vehicle enforcement trooper and Founder & Owner of National DOT Audit & Compliance, LLC.

What it is

The Out-of-Service Criteria (often called the OOSC) is the pass-fail standard for roadside inspections. It's published by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), a nonprofit made up of enforcement officials and industry representatives. The criteria spell out which conditions are serious enough to stop a driver, a vehicle, or a load until the problem is fixed.

CVSA's membership includes agencies across the United States, Canadian provinces and territories, and Mexico, and its stated goal is uniform, reciprocal inspections throughout North America. That's why the same criteria can come up whether you're stopped in Texas or another state.

A violation vs. an out-of-service order

Not every violation puts you out of service. Many violations are written on the inspection report and you continue your trip. An out-of-service order is different: the driver or vehicle can't legally operate until the condition is corrected, or, for some driver conditions, until a set time has passed.

• Vehicles: federal rules say a vehicle declared out of service can't be operated until the required repairs are completed, and the out-of-service sticker can't be removed before then (49 CFR 396.9(c)).
• Drivers (hours of service): a driver can be ordered out of service for driving past the allowed on-duty limits or for not having a current record of duty status, and the carrier can't require or permit that driver to drive until it's lawful again (49 CFR 395.13).
• Afterward: within 15 days of the inspection, the motor carrier must certify that the violations noted on the report were corrected (49 CFR 396.9(d)(3)).

The main categories

These are general descriptions only. The actual thresholds are detailed and specific, so always check the current CVSA edition.

A new edition every year

CVSA updates the criteria annually. Each new edition takes effect on April 1 of that year, and CVSA publishes a summary of the changes. An item that was fine last year can be an out-of-service condition this year, so it pays to know what changed.

The criteria are copyrighted by CVSA, so we don't reproduce them here. You can buy the current edition and read the change summary on CVSA's Out-of-Service Criteria page.

How to stay in service

• Do a real pre-trip. Before driving, the driver must be satisfied the vehicle is in safe operating condition and review the last inspection report when one is required (49 CFR 396.13). Brakes, tires, lights, and load securement deserve a hands-on look every time.
• Keep HOS records current. Make sure drivers know their limits and can show their record of duty status at the roadside.
• Keep driver files ready. A current license, medical certificate, and complete driver qualification file prevent avoidable problems.
• Fix defects, then document. Repair what drivers report, keep the maintenance records, and certify roadside reports on time.
• Train your people. Drivers and mechanics who know what inspectors look for catch problems before an inspector does.