What "out of service" means
At a roadside inspection, an officer checks your truck and your paperwork against the CVSA North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria. If a violation is serious enough, the truck or the driver is placed out of service (OOS). That means you can't move until the problem is fixed. It costs time and money and goes on your safety record.
The good news is that most OOS violations are things you can find during a good pre-trip.
What the 2025 Roadcheck found
Every year CVSA runs International Roadcheck, a 72-hour inspection blitz across North America. In 2025 (May 13–15), inspectors did 56,178 inspections. CVSA reported a vehicle OOS rate of 18.1% and a driver OOS rate of 5.9%.
Top vehicle OOS categories (2025 Roadcheck)
- Brake systems: 24.4% of vehicle OOS violations
- Tires: 21.4%
- Brake adjustment / 20% defective brakes: 16.7%
- Lights: 12.8%
- Cargo securement: 11.4%
Top driver OOS categories
- Hours of service: 32.4%
- No CDL: 24.4%
- No medical card: 14.9%
- False logs: 10.0%
- Suspended license or CDL: 5.1%
Brakes and tires together make up close to half of vehicle OOS violations. That's where to focus.
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How to avoid the big ones
Brakes
- Do the air brake check every day: leaks, low air warning, spring brakes. See our air brake guide.
- Look at pushrod travel and slack adjusters on every wheel.
- Listen for air leaks with the engine off and brakes applied.
- Check hoses for chafing and connections for damage.
- Report a stuck ABS lamp. It's recordable even when it's not OOS by itself.
Tires
- Measure tread: at least 4/32 inch on steer tires, 2/32 inch elsewhere.
- Check pressure cold, with a gauge. Don't just thump them.
- Look for cuts, bulges, exposed cords and objects between duals.
- Look at the valve stems and caps.
Lights
- Walk around with all lights and flashers on before every trip.
- Carry spare bulbs and fuses.
- Clean lenses and reflective tape.
Cargo securement
- Use enough tiedowns for the weight and length of the load.
- Re-check straps and chains in the first miles and at every stop.
- Replace worn or cut straps.
Driver paperwork and hours
- Keep your license and medical card current. Set reminders before they expire.
- Make sure your ELD works and you know how to show logs to an officer.
- Plan trips that fit your available hours. Don't edit logs to cover a late load.
What to do if you get placed out of service
- Stay calm and ask the officer exactly which violation it is.
- Get a copy of the inspection report.
- Call your carrier or your mechanic.
- Don't move the truck until the repair is done. Driving while OOS is its own serious violation.
- Keep the repair receipt and send the signed report back as instructed.
Why clean inspections matter
Clean inspections help your carrier's safety scores, insurance and the loads you can get. For owner-operators, they protect your authority and your income.
When to stop and call a mechanic
If your pre-trip finds air leaks, brakes out of adjustment, a soft or bald tire, or a lamp out, fix it before you leave. If something fails on the road, such as an air pressure drop or a tire coming apart, stop safely and call for service.
FAQ
What is the most common OOS violation for trucks?
In the 2025 Roadcheck, brake systems were the top vehicle OOS category, followed by tires.
Is an ABS light an out-of-service violation?
Usually not by itself, but it's a recordable violation. It can count toward OOS if combined with other brake defects.
Can I drive to a shop after being placed out of service?
Generally no. The problem has to be fixed first, or the truck towed, unless the officer gives other instructions.