The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has scheduled the annual International Road Check Inspection, commonly known as DOT Week or DOT Blitz Week, from May 14-16, 2024. This event is aimed at verifying that commercial vehicles and their drivers adhere to federal regulations and maintain safe operations while on the roads. It’s crucial for shippers to communicate and coordinate with carriers during this period to ensure compliance and minimize disruptions to transportation schedules.
Here are five things you should keep in mind as you plan for DOT Blitz Week:
- Prepare for Possible Delays: Drivers might get pulled over for inspections, which could slow down your shipments. Those inspections are thorough, so carriers should expect some wait time.
- Spot Market Prices Might Spike: With fewer trucks on the road, demand stays the same, meaning spot rates could go up a bit.
- Expect Tighter Capacity: During DOT Week, some drivers might choose to park their rigs for a bit, so don’t be surprised if capacity feels a tad tighter than usual.
- Watch Out for Routing Guide Hiccups: As drivers take time off, there’s a chance carriers may give back a load with little notice. This could affect routing guides, especially for longer hauls.
- Plan Ahead: While DOT Week might shake things up a bit, most carriers will still be operating, and your shipments should still get where they need to go. Give us a call and we’ll help you find innovative solutions for your loads to arrive on time, in full.