Handling Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Handling Commercial Vehicle Inspections

What to Know About Commercial Vehicle Inspections

Alberta truckers are familiar with long hours on the road, traveling the long highways that cross our province. With nearly 25,000 kilometers of highways in Alberta and the province being a hub for Canada’s logistics industry, maintaining vehicle compliance is crucial for safety and efficiency. But as the economy continues its recovery, and the volume of commercial truck traffic increases, so does the frequency of commercial truck inspections.

These temporary stations are often seen on the side of Alberta highways, conducting safety inspections on drivers, vehicles, and cargo. In 2022, Alberta conducted over 28,000 commercial vehicle inspections, identifying more than 11,000 violations. But what you might not know is that there are also mobile versions – and these pop-up inspection stations can set up in new locations all the time (including major freeways like Stoney Trail) to catch unsuspecting drivers. These “blitz” style operations are nearly impossible to predict and can’t be avoided when you’re already cruising down the highway.
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Now don’t get us wrong: it’s important to follow the law, and these stations are enforcing strict standards for the safety of everyone on the road. After all, big trucks + small passenger vehicles + speed = bad news! That’s why during an inspection, if infractions are found, you can be fined or even have your truck held temporarily until the problems are fixed. If your cargo is not secured properly or documented poorly, or if your truck is mechanically not up to par, you might be stuck indefinitely – and that’s not good.

How to Stay Ahead of CVIP Inspections

You need to ensure you stay on top of your regular maintenance and do everything you can do to avoid failing a CVIP inspection before booking in for one. Staying prepared can prevent costly delays and ensure compliance with Alberta Transportation regulations.

Mobile Commercial Truck Repair

Here at West Tech Mobile Truck & Trailer Repair, we know that this situation would already be inconvenient enough – and that’s why we bring the fix to YOU! If you find yourself stranded at an inspection station, with repairs needed before you can get back to the road, simply call us and we’ll meet you there, on-site with our fully-equipped service trucks. We’ve got everything you’ll need to get your truck or trailer working again – and we work to the highest standards at a reasonable price. We can take on almost all heavy-duty trucks, trailers, light machinery, and equipment.
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No matter what time of day it is, we’re here to help. Our roadside assistance is available 24 hours a day, because we know how frustrating it is to be stuck on the shoulder or at a station at the end of the day. We want to make sure you don’t lose any more time than you have to on your schedule. And with 4 separate mobile service units, we can even be in more than one place at a time.

Annual Brake Checks for Commercial Vehicles

If you’ve been driving a truck or other heavy vehicles for a long time, you may remember a time when inspections weren’t quite as strict or stringent as they are now. One of the big shifts happened in 2019, changing the standards for maintaining brake systems to require an inspection at least once a year.
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Brake-related violations account for nearly 30% of all out-of-service violations during CVIP inspections in Alberta. A big reason for this is quality. At any automotive shop, in the parts section, you’ll find plenty of options for every vehicle – and every budget. These cheap parts can be tempting when you’re looking to replace something that’s worn out on your truck. Now, while these cheaper brake pads or drums will work, they may not work as well as something more expensive because they are often produced or manufactured for as cheaply as possible – which may be here at home, or may be far overseas. This means quality control may not be effective, the component parts may be low-quality to begin with, or they may just get damaged during a long trip across an ocean. Our advice? Buy the cheapest brake pads at your own risk, because you’re likely to be paying again if they fail early.

Another reason that brakes have to be checked annually is that the latest criteria of inspections for Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) has changed. Inspections of years past included a cam rotation, lining thickness measurements, and push rod traveling, from which shops like ours could pinpoint the drum wear, even though we usually visually inspected the brakes through the hole in the backing plate. We only pulled drums if physical damage or the measurements showed we had to.

Now CVIP standards state that brakes must be pulled every year on various makes and models of equipment to verify things like pad/shoe condition, drum wear, heat dissipation, and cracking to within one inch of the drum lip. This causes us to replace many more brake parts because the visual inspection is much more thorough.

It’s always a good idea to leave inspections like this to the pros. Our specialty is preventative maintenance, and we’re dedicated to keeping your rig running, operational, and compliant before the major problems appear.

The Difference Between CVIP and Preventative Maintenance

It’s not easy to maintain a single vehicle that gets used every day, let alone an entire fleet of them. Between dust and debris, bad driving conditions, extreme temperatures, and just plain old wear and tear, it won’t take long to run into trouble somewhere if you’re not keeping up with inspections and maintenance.
One part of keeping your truck or heavy equipment in good shape is the CVIP (Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program), a mandatory inspection that looks at all your systems to ensure smooth operations. Generally speaking, the CVIP catches the things that would make your driving unsafe and is only done at specific intervals, such as once a year. While a great start, that leaves a lot of time for something to go wrong under the hood, or somewhere else. You might bring your commercial vehicle in for an inspection, only to find something costly and critical that must be dealt with immediately – and that’s stressful for anyone.
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The solution to this shortfall is preventative maintenance. It’s not mandatory or enforced, but this routine means you are getting regular check-ups on the overall function of your vehicle – everything from the tires being a little low on air, to the A/C needing a recharge soon, or even the door handle sticking now and then. The whole point of this proactive approach is to catch issues when they are small, fix them before they become large, and save you plenty of time and money along the way.
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Incorporating preventative maintenance into your operations can reduce unexpected downtime by up to 30%, a significant benefit for fleet managers in Alberta’s trucking industry.

By using a consistent PM schedule, you have much more control over your time and money when it comes to what you’re spending on your heavy-duty equipment. Small issues are fixed before they become crippling. Large repairs can sometimes be dealt with in stages, helping to alleviate immediate expenses, and you’ll be aware of anything that might be problematic in the near future, allowing you to budget accordingly as well as extending the life of your vehicle. Plus, you get the peace of mind knowing you won’t have any trouble while far from home and trying to get your work done – it reduces unplanned downtime and lost income.

It doesn’t have to be a big project. At West Tech Mobile, our service trucks will even come to you – on-site, on the roadside, at a shop – when it works for your schedule.

On-site Commercial Vehicle Inspections

At West Tech Mobile, we understand the challenges of keeping your fleet compliant and safe while minimizing downtime. That’s why we offer on-site commercial vehicle inspections designed to meet your needs wherever you are. Our skilled technicians can perform a variety of inspections on trucks, trailers, and heavy equipment, helping you stay ahead of potential issues without disrupting your operations.
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Preventative Maintenance Inspections:
These "in-between" inspections are not part of mandatory CVIP requirements but are essential for ensuring your vehicles remain in top condition. We can perform these inspections at your site or in our shop, identifying small issues before they turn into costly repairs. While these inspections don’t replace official CVIP assessments, they help extend the life of your equipment and keep your fleet running efficiently.

Mandatory Inspections:
Our team is equipped to handle pre-delivery (PDI), pre-purchase (PPI), and periodic CVIP inspections on-site when possible. This minimizes downtime and eliminates the need to transport your vehicles to a shop unless repairs require specialized equipment or extended work.

Advanced Testing Options:
For equipment requiring more specialized testing, such as magnetic particle inspections or ultrasonic tests for structural integrity, we collaborate with trusted partners to ensure every component meets safety and compliance standards.

Whether you need inspections for trucks, cranes, manlifts, forklifts, or other heavy machinery, we’ve got you covered. Our goal is to provide thorough inspections that keep your operations safe and your vehicles compliant, all while saving you time and money.

Keeping Your Fleet Safe, Efficient, and Compliant

The demands of Alberta’s trucking and heavy equipment industry require consistent and proactive care for your vehicles. From preventative maintenance to mandatory inspections, staying ahead of potential problems is key to keeping your fleet operational and profitable.

At West Tech Mobile, we are dedicated to helping you navigate the complexities of commercial vehicle maintenance and compliance. Our mobile services, skilled technicians, and commitment to quality ensure that whether you're on the road, at the job site, or managing a fleet, you’ll always have a partner you can count on.  We offer 3-month warranties on minor repairs and 12-month warranties for major work.
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And don’t forget, we offer emergency roadside assistance around Calgary and southern Alberta at 403-899-8805. When you need a part, an inspection, a licensed technician, or a commercial truck inspection, make West Tech Mobile your first call!