DOT Roadside Inspection Levels Explained (Levels I–IX)

DOT roadside inspections follow levels set by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). A Level I inspection is the most complete check of both the driver and the vehicle. Other levels focus on part of that, such as a walk-around, driver paperwork only, or the vehicle only. Every inspection result goes into FMCSA's data and can affect your CSA scores.

Who sets the inspection levels

CVSA is a nonprofit group of state, provincial and federal enforcement officials and industry members in the US, Canada and Mexico. It writes the North American Standard Inspection Program, including the inspection levels and the Out-of-Service Criteria.

The level definitions are in CVSA Operational Policy 5, published in CVSA's Roadside Inspection Operational Policies (revised April 23, 2026). CVSA also summarizes them on its All Inspection Levels page.

The inspection levels at a glance

What inspectors check at each level

Level I: North American Standard Inspection

This is the full inspection. CVSA's definition lists these items.

Driver side:

• Driver's license
• Medical examiner's certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) certificate, if needed
• Alcohol and drugs
• Record of duty status (logs or ELD), as required
• Hours of service
• Seat belt
• Vehicle inspection reports, if needed
• Hazmat requirements, if they apply

Vehicle side:

• Brake systems
• Cargo securement
• Coupling devices
• Driver's seat (missing)
• Driveline and driveshaft
• Exhaust and fuel systems
• Frames
• Lighting devices, including headlamps, tail lamps, stop lamps, turn signals and flags on projecting loads
• Steering mechanisms
• Suspensions
• Tires
• Van and open-top trailer bodies
• Wheels, rims and hubs
• Windshield wipers

For buses and passenger vans, inspectors also check emergency exits, seating, and electrical cables and systems in the engine and battery compartments. Hazmat items are checked only by inspectors certified for hazmat and cargo tanks.

CVSA's policy notes that if more than 20% of the brakes cannot be inspected, the inspection is recorded as a Level II instead.

Level II: Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection

Level II covers the same driver items and the same list of vehicle items as Level I. The difference is that the inspector checks only what can be seen without physically getting under the vehicle.

Level III: Driver/Credential/Administrative Inspection

Level III focuses on the driver and paperwork. At a minimum, it includes, where they apply:

• Driver's license
• Medical examiner's certificate and SPE certificate
• Record of duty status and hours of service
• Seat belt
• Vehicle inspection reports
• Carrier identification and status

CVSA's policy says mechanical violations that belong to a Level I or II inspection should not be included in a Level III. Traffic violations may be.

Level IV: Special Inspection

A Level IV is usually a one-time check of a specific item. CVSA says these are normally done to support a study or to confirm or rule out a suspected trend. A Level IV may also be used after a collision when a full inspection can't be completed.

Level V: Vehicle-Only Inspection

Level V covers all the vehicle items from Level I, but without a driver present. It can happen at any location, such as your terminal or yard.

Level VI: Radioactive Material Shipments

Level VI is for transuranic waste and highway route controlled quantities (HRCQ) of radioactive material. It adds radiological requirements and special out-of-service criteria to the Level I inspection. Most carriers will never see one.

Level VII: Jurisdictional Mandated Inspection

Level VII covers state or local inspection programs that don't fit any other level. CVSA lists examples such as school buses, limousines, taxis, shared-ride services and hotel shuttles. No CVSA decal is issued for a Level VII, though a state may issue its own.

Level VIII: Electronic Inspection

A Level VIII is done electronically or wirelessly while the vehicle is moving, with no direct contact with an officer. To count as complete, the data exchange must include the items CVSA lists, where they apply. These include the vehicle location, who is driving, license class, endorsements and status, medical and SPE certificates, record of duty status and hours of service, USDOT number, power unit registration, operating authority, UCR compliance and any federal out-of-service orders.

Level IX: Post-Crash Inspection

CVSA's current policy adds a Level IX Post-Crash Inspection. It must include all accessible Level I items. CVSA says it should be done after a crash that results in a fatality, serious physical injury, a high-profile crash involving a commercial vehicle, or when the jurisdiction requires it.

Out-of-service criteria

The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria list the problems serious enough to stop a driver or vehicle on the spot. CVSA updates them every year. The 2026 edition took effect April 1, 2026 and replaced all earlier versions.

There are two kinds of out-of-service (OOS) orders at roadside:

• Driver OOS: The driver can't drive until the problem is fixed. Examples include hours-of-service violations, no valid license, and since June 25, 2025, failing to meet the English language proficiency requirement. Read more in our guide on English proficiency out-of-service enforcement.
• Vehicle OOS: The vehicle can't move until the defect is repaired. Brake, tire, lighting and other critical defects can trigger this.

Under 49 CFR 396.9(c), no one may operate a vehicle declared out of service until the repairs required by the OOS notice are done. Driving while under a roadside OOS order is a serious violation.

A roadside OOS order is different from a federal out-of-service order against your whole company. For that, see our guide on FMCSA out-of-service order reinstatement.

The CVSA decal

A CVSA decal shows that a vehicle recently passed a full inspection. According to CVSA Operational Policy 5:

• Only Level I and Level V inspections can result in a CVSA decal. Level VI has its own special decal.
• The vehicle must have no violations of the critical vehicle inspection items.
• No decal is issued if the carrier has no operating authority, operates beyond its authority, has an inactive or missing USDOT number, or is under a federal out-of-service order.
• A decal stays valid for no more than three consecutive months.
• Vehicles with a valid decal generally won't be re-inspected. But inspectors can still re-inspect if they see a reason to.

See CVSA's About Inspection Decals page for more.

How inspection results feed CSA

Every inspection, clean or not, is uploaded to FMCSA's data systems. The Safety Measurement System (SMS) uses inspection results from the last 24 months to calculate your BASIC percentiles.

• Violations add to your scores. More serious violations, and those that led to an OOS order, weigh more.
• Recent violations count more. Older ones count less and drop off after 24 months.
• Clean inspections help. In most BASICs, inspections with no violations still count in your total, which dilutes past violations.
• The level matters. The SMS counts driver violations only from inspections that check the driver, and vehicle violations only from inspections that check the vehicle.

If a violation was written in error, you can challenge it through DataQs. Our guide to CSA BASIC scores and DataQs explains how.

What drivers should have ready

Being organized makes inspections faster and helps avoid paperwork violations. Drivers should be able to show:

• A valid license with the right class and endorsements
• A medical examiner's certificate, if required, and an SPE certificate if they have one
• Records of duty status for the current day and the prior 7 days, as required under 49 CFR 395.8
• For ELD users, the items required by 49 CFR 395.22(h): the ELD user's manual, data transfer instructions, malfunction instructions and blank paper logs for at least 8 days
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of the vehicle's periodic (annual) inspection under 49 CFR 396.17
• Shipping papers, and hazmat papers if hauling hazmat
• Lease agreements or other documents your operation requires

Drivers should also be ready to answer basic questions in English about their trip, load and logs.

Good pre-trip inspections prevent many vehicle violations. Check lights, tires, brakes, air lines, coupling devices and cargo securement before every trip.

After the inspection: the report and your 15-day duty

At the end of the inspection, the driver gets a copy of the inspection report. Here is what 49 CFR 396.9(d) requires next:

1. The driver delivers the report. The driver gives the report to the carrier when reaching the next terminal or facility. If that won't happen within 24 hours, the driver must send it right away by mail, fax or other means.
2. The carrier fixes the problems. The carrier must review the report and correct the violations or defects listed.
3. The carrier certifies repairs within 15 days. Within 15 days after the inspection, the carrier must sign the certification section of the report to confirm the violations were corrected.
4. Return it if the state asks. If the state agency that issued the report requests it, the carrier must send the completed report back to the address on the form.
5. Keep a copy for 12 months. The carrier must keep a copy for 12 months from the inspection date at its principal place of business or where the vehicle is housed.

How JMM Compliance can help

We help carriers get ready for roadside inspections before they happen. That includes setting up vehicle maintenance programs, reviewing hours of service practices and keeping driver qualification files complete. We can also help you build a process for handling inspection reports, repairs and the 15-day certification. You can start by checking your public safety record with our USDOT check tool.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Requirements depend on your operation; confirm details with FMCSA or a qualified professional.