What is CVIP Inspection?
Owners of commercial vehicles have a bigger responsibility for maintenance than regular vehicles. Part of their maintenance checklist for themselves means seeking out commercial vehicle inspection. This inspection is known as a Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program (CVIP), which is required of all commercial vehicle owners.
Yet, what is a CVIP inspection? What does it entail?
Get the answers here!
What a CVIP Inspection Is
There is a reason why CVIP inspection is needed for vehicles with commercial plates. The program aims to ensure all highway fleet vehicles are properly maintained by enforcing and establishing quality standards for road safety.
These include vehicles such as:
- All commercial trucks
- Truck-tractors
- Light trucks
- Trailers
- Semi-trailers
- Buses
If you're unsure if your commercial vehicle needs inspection, you must consider its gross vehicle weight (GVW). Mostly, it includes trucks, truck-tractors, semi-trailers, trailers, and combinations thereof that exceed 4,500 kg when operating outside the country. If your commercial vehicle exceeds a registered GVW of 11,794 kg within your province or state, you must also get a CVIP inspection.
Buses' criteria are based on the design, construction, and use for transporting passengers with a seating capacity of more than 10 (including the driver). Those who operate a bus for personal use are excluded from this.
The Importance of CVIP Inspection
As established, CVIP inspections ensure a commercial vehicle's maintenance is safe for highway travel. However, understanding its importance includes understanding its value. For instance, commercial vehicle drivers that travel through and around the country. Receiving a certificate and a decal for passing a CVIP inspection makes it easier to prove to enforcement agencies and officers that your commercial vehicle meets standards.
Without it, you can expect a roadside inspection from weigh stations and border crossings. Doing so can result in potential delays - which can put a wrench into remaining on schedule. In other cases, it can even mean some vehicles getting removed from the road. These circumstances can seriously impede a trucker in the freight business since time off the road can cost them money. You can easily avoid these scenarios by ensuring you get a CVIP inspection annually.
What to Expect from a CVP Inspection
During a CVIP inspection, you can expect it to cover your whole commercial vehicle.
These areas of your commercial vehicle are typically inspected:
- Brake systems
- Defroster
- Electrical
- Engine
- Fuel & exhaust system
- Lighting
- Steering system
- Suspension
- Transmission
- Powertrain
- Tires
- Wipers
- Wiring & lights
- Driveline
- Glass
Once the inspection is complete, you are notified of any potential repairs that may be necessary. In which case, you are provided with an estimate of the costs. Depending on where you go, the prices can vary for a CVIP inspection and how much repair work is needed. Therefore, you can anticipate expenses to range from $160 to $500 for a CVIP inspection.
After everything is done, you will be given a certificate and decal to put on your window that shows the expiration date of your CVIP inspection. For commercial passenger vehicles like buses, vans and motor coaches, a CVIP inspection is good every six months. As for commercial trucks and trailers, they're good for much longer - which is every 12 months.
Outcome of CVIP Inspection
Once you pass your CVIP inspection, you're essentially good to go on the road without a hitch until your certificate is close to expiration. If you are on the road when it expires, you don't have to worry about getting into big trouble. If you make an appointment with the nearest licensed facility for a CVIP inspection, you will be fine if you're heading straight there. On the off-chance that you get stopped by an officer, you can avoid any problems by ensuring the shop's phone number and the date of your appointment.
However, what happens if you fail your CVIP inspection?
Well, it's expected that you must do repairs within ten days of the date on the record of inspection. Within that time frame, your commercial vehicle is subject to verification of required repairs only. If you fail to present within ten days, you must get a new inspection.
Furthermore, CVIP inspection certificates must be presented to any registry agent within 14 days from the date of issue. Failure to do so within 14 days will require you to undergo a full out-of-province-state vehicle inspection.
CVIP inspections are in place for the safety of the driver and those on the road. They're a necessary means of maintenance that goes a long way and keeps commercial vehicles on the road without fuss.