Preparing Your Fleet for Blitz Week 2025
May 2, 2025
Blitz Week might feel like a DOT ambush, but what if it’s really a mirror? In this episode, we break down this year’s CVSA Roadcheck, what’s getting drivers sidelined, and why the scariest part isn’t the inspection – it’s what it reveals.
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Transcript
Introduction
I got my first car in 2008, a notably fun time in history to have to ask your parents for money.
Money was tight, gas was expensive, and anything unexpected—especially car-related—felt like a threat.
So when the check engine light came on one day, I panicked. Not outwardly, of course. I just...ignored it. For weeks. I was convinced that telling my parents would lead to some expensive repair we couldn’t afford.
Eventually, my dad drove the car and asked, “Hey, when’s the last time you put air in your tires?”
Turns out – it wasn’t the check engine light at all. Just low tire pressure. That’s also the day I learned there are different lights on the dash. And that ignoring a problem doesn’t make it go away.
Sometimes, clarity is just one inspection away.
Welcome to The Fleet Code, a podcast brought to you by Fleetio, where we dive into the latest fleet trends, technologies, and best practices. My name is Zach Searcy and I'm your host.
Today we're talking about every truck driver's favorite topic: CVSA's International Roadcheck, more affectionately known as Blitz Week. It's the "scary check engine light" on everybody's dash right now—and I'm going to try to convince you that it's not as scary as it seems.
Let’s get into it.
Why We Dread Blitz Week
There’s a reason Blitz Week looms large on every fleet manager’s calendar. It’s not just the inspections. It’s not even the violations.
It’s what Blitz Week represents: three days where every crack in your process, every shortcut, every “I’ll get to that later” becomes visible. And possibly costly.
Because during Roadcheck, everything’s on the table. Your vehicle. Your driver. Your logs. Your maintenance records. It’s a full-system audit, happening in real-time, at highway speed.
And for many fleets, it’s not just about passing the inspection. It’s about the potential fallout:
- A driver pulled out of service on a tight delivery timeline
- A vehicle flagged for a missed brake adjustment that was never communicated
- A warning that tanks your CSA score – even if it wasn’t technically your fault
And here’s what makes it harder: everyone knows it’s coming. We all have May 13–15 circled on our calendars. The focus areas have already been announced by the CVSA.
We even get enough of a heads up that my team put together an inspection form so your drivers can make sure that the vehicle is compliant. You can find that link in the description.
Which begs the question: if it’s not a surprise, why does it still feel like one?
Voices from the Road
If you really want to understand what Blitz Week feels like… don’t look at the CVSA website.
Look at Reddit.
It’s a beautiful, chaotic mix of panic, dark humor, and hot takes from truck cabs across the country. And if I'm being honest, it also reads a little bit like a public therapy session.
Here are a few of my favorite comments:
“Had a full-on panic attack during the inspection…”
“DOT Blitz Week? I ain’t hitting no scales. Today's a good day for the scenic route.”
“I exclusively plan my vacation days around this week lol.”
Some of it’s funny. Some of it’s strategic. All of it points to the same thing: nobody wants to get caught off guard.
“Six violations. Five on the trailer I picked up yesterday. They aren’t messing around.”
“Three warnings: flat tire, extinguisher not in holder, reverse light out. Out of service until someone comes to fix it.”
“Got hit for 30 points. Chafed air line. Two low tires. Cracked extinguisher glass.”
Blitz Week doesn’t care if the problem started with the last driver. Or if your maintenance system dropped the ball. Or if the trailer looked fine when you picked it up.
If it’s on your truck – it's on you.
But not everyone’s sweating it:
“Pulled into the Oklahoma bay. Full level one. Got my sticker.”
“Honestly? I hope I get stopped. My company gives us a hundred-dollar gift card for a clean inspection.”
From fear to frustration to full-blown flexing, Blitz Week brings out a little bit of everything. But it always leads to the same question:
Do you know what’s going on with your fleet? Or are you just hoping no one notices?
What’s Actually Getting Caught?
Let’s take a step back and look at what’s actually getting flagged.
Every year, CVSA publishes data on the most common out-of-service violations—and let's be honest, none of us are surprised by these.
Last year's most common violations: Hours of Service, Missing CDL, Defective Brakes, and Tires.
This year’s focus:
👉 Tires
👉 False records of duty status (RODS)
What inspectors are checking for on the driver side:
- Electronic logging device tampering
- “Ghost drivers” (fake co-drivers)
- Misuse of exceptions like personal conveyance
- Off-duty time that was actually working
These aren’t minor mistakes. They reflect bigger issues with training and accountability.
If your drivers don’t know what counts as off-duty—or if your system makes it easier to fudge time than log it properly—that’s not a driver problem. That’s a leadership problem.
What inspectors are checking for on the vehicle side (Tires):
- Low tread depth
- Audible air leaks
- Tread or sidewall separation
- Bulges, improper repairs, or lodged items
These are basics. Every driver should be inspecting them daily.
When fleets get cited for these issues, it’s not due to lack of knowledge. It’s lack of follow-through.
Blitz Week isn’t exposing random failures. It’s exposing habits.
What Blitz Week Really Tells You
Blitz Week isn’t just an inspection. It’s a mirror.
It shows you what your drivers know—and what they don’t.
What your processes catch—and what they miss.
What your maintenance program promises—and what it actually delivers.
The best fleets don’t panic during Blitz Week. They’re prepared.
Their drivers log accurately. Their tire checks are real, not rushed. And their systems work.
They don’t hope for clean inspections. They expect them.
Not because they’re lucky—but because they’ve built routines that catch problems before an inspector does.
Key Takeaways
- Avoiding inspections doesn’t make you safer. Visibility does. Blitz Week just shines a light on what’s already there.
- Your drivers mirror your culture. If they’re untrained or unsupported, that’s a leadership issue—not a personnel issue.
- The best prep isn’t last-minute. It’s consistent habits, year-round. Good inspections are built on better routines.
The Fleet Code is brought to you by Fleetio, where we help fleet teams bring visibility into every part of their operation.
Be sure to download the [Roadcheck inspection checklist]/blog/cvsa-roadcheck-takeaways) to help prep for International Roadcheck.
Have a Blitz Week story? Send it to us at podcast@fleetio.com.
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