Avoiding Violations Next Year: What 2025’s International Roadcheck Taught Us

Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck puts fleets under the microscope, and this year was no exception. While 81% of vehicles passed inspection with flying colors, more than 10,000 were placed out of service for violations. Once again, brake systems and tires topped the list.

If your fleet was among those flagged, don’t get discouraged. Get proactive -- and now's the time to get started. Here’s what went wrong in 2025, what you can do to fix it, and how Squarerigger can help you stay compliant in 2026.

The Biggest Offenders: Brakes and Tires

In 2025, inspectors conducted over 56,000 inspections across North America. The results?

• Brake Systems accounted for 3,304 out-of-service (OOS) violations, nearly a quarter of all vehicle OOS cases.

• Tires followed closely behind, with 2,899 OOS violations, or 21.4% of all vehicle violations.

• “20% Defective Brakes” added another 2,257 OOS cases.

Together, these issues made up 41% of all vehicle violations.

The takeaway is clear: preventive maintenance isn’t just about uptime, it’s about compliance and safety too.

Why Fleets Get Flagged (and How to Fix It)

1. Missed or inconsistent PMs
Many violations stem from delayed preventive maintenance or inconsistent recordkeeping. Brakes and tires degrade gradually, meaning issues that could have been caught in a scheduled inspection often go unnoticed until it’s too late.

2. Poor documentation
Inspectors look for maintenance history. If you can’t show proof that your inspections and repairs were completed, it counts against you, even if the work was done.

3. Incomplete pre-trip inspections
Flat or underinflated tires, low brake pressure, or visible leaks can often be caught during pre-trip checks. Unfortunately, manual or paper-based inspections make it easy for items to be skipped or ignored.

How Squarerigger Helps Fleets Avoid Violations

Automated PM Scheduling
Squarerigger keeps your preventive maintenance on track by automatically scheduling service based on mileage, hours, or time intervals. You’ll never miss a brake inspection or tire rotation again, and you’ll have a digital record to prove it.

Digital Inspection Checklists
Replace paper with mobile inspections your technicians and drivers can complete from the shop or the field. Customize templates for tires, brakes, lights, and cargo securement to match CVSA’s inspection criteria.

Smart Alerts & Work Orders
When an inspection reveals a problem like low tire pressure or worn brake pads,  Squarerigger automatically generates a work request and alerts your maintenance team before that issue turns into a violation.

Parts and Inventory Tracking
No more discovering you’re out of brake chambers or tire sets during a service. Squarerigger helps you track inventory levels, vendor orders, and part usage across all locations, so you’re always ready for preventive maintenance.

Reporting & Audit Readiness
From PM completion rates to inspection histories, Squarerigger centralizes your records for easier audits. With full visibility into maintenance trends, you can identify repeat offenders and prevent recurring violations.

The Bottom Line

Brake and tire violations aren’t inevitable — they’re preventable. Fleets that take a proactive, data-driven approach to maintenance consistently outperform those running on paper or memory.

With Squarerigger, you get a connected, automated system that helps you catch issues early, document compliance automatically, and reduce violations year after year.

Next Step:
Get ahead of next year’s inspection.
Book a demo to see how Squarerigger helps fleets stay safe, compliant, and on the road — without the chaos.