5 Common CVIP Inspection Mistakes That Could Cost You Big

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP) inspections are crucial for ensuring heavy-duty trucks remain roadworthy and compliant with Alberta’s transportation regulations. However, many fleet owners and truck operators unknowingly make costly mistakes during these inspections, leading to unnecessary fines, downtime, and expensive repairs. Below, we break down five of the most common CVIP inspection mistakes, and how you can avoid them.

1. Ignoring Pre-Inspection Maintenance

Many truck owners assume they can send their vehicles for a CVIP inspection without performing basic maintenance. However, if your truck has worn-out brake pads, leaking fluid lines, or malfunctioning lights, it’s likely to fail—wasting time and money.

What to do instead:

• Conduct a thorough pre-trip inspection before scheduling your CVIP.
• Check fluid levels, tire pressure, brake wear, and lighting systems.
• Address any minor issues to avoid a failed inspection and a return visit.

2. Overlooking Brake System Issues

Brakes are one of the most scrutinized components during CVIP inspections, and for good reason—faulty brakes pose a significant safety risk. One common oversight is failing to maintain slack adjusters or letting brake chambers get too worn out.

Common brake-related failures include:

• Excessive brake pad wear
• Faulty slack adjusters
• Air leaks in brake lines
• Malfunctioning ABS sensors

How to prevent this:

• Perform regular brake system inspections between CVIPs.
• Listen for air leaks and inspect brake pad thickness.
• Ensure your automatic slack adjusters are working correctly.
• If your truck uses air brakes, drain your air tanks regularly to prevent moisture buildup.

3. Neglecting Suspension & Steering Components

The suspension and steering system are integral to vehicle safety and performance. However, worn-out bushings, shocks, and kingpins often go unnoticed—until a CVIP inspector flags them.

Signs of suspension and steering issues:

• Uneven tire wear
• Excessive play in the steering wheel
• Leaking or damaged shocks
• Loose or cracked leaf springs

Avoid this costly mistake by:

• Inspecting your tie rods, kingpins, bushings, and shocks frequently.
• Checking for oil leaks around shocks and struts.
• Keeping an eye out for unusual vibrations or steering resistance.

4. Failing to Maintain Lights and Reflectors

Non-functional lights and reflectors may seem like minor issues, but they can lead to an automatic CVIP failure. Alberta’s commercial vehicle regulations require all exterior lights—headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and marker lamps—to be fully operational.

Common lighting issues include:

• Burnt-out bulbs
• Corroded wiring harnesses
• Cracked or missing reflectors
• Improperly secured light assemblies

Quick fix:

• Test all exterior and interior lights before heading to an inspection.
• Replace faulty bulbs and inspect wiring for corrosion.
• Clean dirty or faded reflectors to ensure maximum visibility.

5. Not Keeping Accurate Maintenance Records

One of the most common (yet preventable) CVIP mistakes is failing to maintain accurate service records. CVIP inspectors often request maintenance logs to verify that routine services, such as oil changes, filter replacements, and fluid checks, have been performed.

The risk of poor record-keeping includes:

• Inability to prove proper vehicle maintenance.
• Increased risk of compliance violations and potential fines.
• Difficulty in diagnosing past repair issues.

How to stay compliant:

• Keep digital or physical maintenance logs.
• Record all repairs, parts replacements, and servicing dates.
• Ensure that fleet managers and drivers document pre-trip and post-trip inspections.

Learn More

Failing a CVIP inspection isn’t just an inconvenience—it can result in costly downtime, fines, and even a red-flagged commercial fleet. By proactively addressing these common CVIP mistakes, you can improve fleet safety, ensure regulatory compliance, and avoid unnecessary repair expenses.

Before your next CVIP inspection, take the time to review brakes, suspension, lighting, and record-keeping—it could save you thousands in repairs and downtime.

Need a pre-inspection check-up? Contact Pin Point Diesel Repair in Edmonton, AB today!