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Out-of-Service Criteria Training
Learn the conditions that can put a driver or vehicle out of service at roadside, from an instructor with a Texas commercial vehicle enforcement background. Steven Oliver, CSHO, teaches what the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria are and how they support pre-trip and post-trip inspections.
What the Out-of-Service Criteria are
The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, published by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), are the pass-fail criteria certified enforcement personnel use during roadside inspections to identify critical violations. An out-of-service condition keeps the driver, vehicle, or cargo off the road until it's corrected.
CVSA updates the criteria every year, effective April 1. The 2026 edition took effect on April 1, 2026, so a crew trained on older material may be working from outdated rules.
Who it's for
Drivers
What to look for on a pre-trip and en route, and the paperwork and driver conditions an inspector checks.
Mechanics & technicians
The equipment conditions that cross the line from a violation to out of service, so repairs are prioritized correctly.
Safety managers
How out-of-service conditions show up in inspections and how to build policies, training, and maintenance around them.
What the training covers
Content is matched to your operation and audience. In general terms, it covers:
- ✓ How the criteria are organized and how they're applied at roadside
- ✓ Driver conditions, including licensing and hours-of-service records
- ✓ Vehicle conditions, including brake systems, tires, wheels, lighting, coupling devices, and cargo securement
- ✓ Hazardous materials conditions, such as placarding and shipping papers
- ✓ What changed in the current year's edition
- ✓ Turning the criteria into daily pre-trip and shop habits
About the instructor
Steven Oliver, CSHO, is a retired Texas State Trooper from the Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Service with 21+ years in law enforcement and nearly two decades in commercial vehicle enforcement and compliance. Training: North American Roadside Part A, B, and C; PHMSA Hazmat Instructor Training. "I've been on both sides of the inspection window."
This is training for industry professionals. It does not certify anyone as a CVSA inspector. The official criteria handbook is published by CVSA.
Course Options
All classes are taught in person. Course length depends on your needs. A two-day course is recommended to cover the course material and complete practical application, and shorter options are available.
Two-day course (recommended)
Covers the course material and includes time to complete practical application.
4-hour or 8-hour class
4-hour or 8-hour classes are also available.
1–2 hour safety meeting
1–2 hour safety meetings with a question-and-answer session.
Contact us to plan the right option →
Related: All training (annual inspection & hazmat) · Mock inspections · Inspection guide · DataQs challenges
Sources
- CVSA, Out-of-Service Criteria
- CVSA, "CVSA's 2026 Out-of-Service Criteria Now in Effect" (April 1, 2026)
Out-of-service training is based on the current CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. National DOT Audit & Compliance is not affiliated with or endorsed by CVSA. No CVSA material is reproduced; official copies of the Criteria are purchased directly from CVSA.