DOT Blitz Week 2025: What Shippers Need to Know (and How to Prepare)

From May 13–15, 2025, commercial truck drivers across North America will face increased inspections during CVSA’s International Roadcheck, commonly known as DOT Blitz Week.

This annual inspection initiative affects freight movement in a big way—reducing truck availability, increasing spot rates, and causing service delays. If you ship freight, here’s what you need to know and how to stay ahead of potential disruptions.

What Is DOT Blitz Week?

DOT stands for the Department of Transportation, the U.S. federal agency responsible for transportation regulations.

CVSA stands for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, a nonprofit made up of law enforcement officials and industry representatives across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Together, they oversee International Roadcheck, the largest targeted inspection effort on commercial motor vehicles and drivers in North America.

What Happens During CVSA International Roadcheck?

For 72 hours, inspectors across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico conduct roadside inspections at weigh stations, rest areas, and mobile patrol sites. Most inspections will follow the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that checks both driver credentials and vehicle mechanical fitness.

During these inspections, law enforcement checks for:

• Proper licensing, documentation, and logs
• Driver fitness and impairment (including drug and alcohol screening)
• Hours-of-Service (HOS) compliance
• Seatbelt usage and medical certificates
• Brake systems, tires, lights, cargo securement, coupling devices, fuel systems, steering, suspension, and more

Vehicles that pass inspection may receive a CVSA decal, valid for three months. Trucks or drivers that fail inspection are placed out of service immediately and can’t return to the road until violations are resolved.

When Is DOT Blitz Week 2025?

The 2025 International Roadcheck takes place Tuesday, May 13 through Thursday, May 15.

Inspections will happen in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with results collected and published by CVSA later this summer.

What Are the Focus Areas for 2025?

Each year, CVSA highlights specific areas for enhanced scrutiny. This year, inspectors will focus on:

🔍 Driver Focus: Hours-of-Service (HOS) and Record of Duty Status (RODS)

Drivers must accurately log their hours and rest breaks to comply with HOS rules. Inspectors will review RODS for completeness, accuracy, and signs of falsification. Violations can result in an out-of-service order and possible legal action.

🔍 Vehicle Focus: Tire Health and Tractor Protection Systems

In addition to tire inspections, 2025’s Roadcheck will place extra emphasis on tractor protection systems (TPS)—a critical safety feature that helps maintain air pressure in trailers during a disconnect.

Last year alone, inspectors cited over 560 TPS violations, signaling a growing concern around proper maintenance of this system.

And while tires are the headline this year, brake systems remain the top source of violations. In 2024, defective service brakes accounted for 25% of all vehicle out-of-service violations during Roadcheck.

Proactive maintenance isn't just about passing an inspection—it’s about avoiding costly downtime and keeping your freight on the move.

Why Shippers Should Care

While this event focuses on trucks and drivers, shippers are not immune to the ripple effects:

• Non-compliant trucks and drivers are removed from the supply chain.
• Many compliant drivers park their trucks to avoid inspections altogether.
• This causes immediate capacity shortages, especially in the spot market.
• Freight rates spike. As demand outpaces supply, prices increase.

Even shippers with regular contract lanes may see delays or limited flexibility during this time.

How Blitz Week Impacts Freight Movement

🚛 Truck Availability

• Carriers may temporarily pull capacity from the market.
• Local and regional hauls may be deprioritized.
• Expect potential delivery rescheduling and service gaps.

📈 Freight Rates

• Rates often rise the week before and during Roadcheck.
• Spot rates in particular may surge due to the drop in available trucks.
• Post-Blitz, rates usually normalize but disruptions can linger.

Tips to Avoid Supply Chain Disruptions

Here’s how your team can stay ahead of Blitz Week challenges:

✅ Book freight early. Get ahead of the rate spikes by scheduling loads in advance.
✅ Be flexible. If you can adjust pickup or delivery windows or consider alternate modes you’ll have more options.
✅ Communicate with your 4PL partner. At GLI, we’re actively planning around Blitz Week with our carrier network.
✅ Build in buffer time. Pad your transit times where possible to avoid last-minute surprises.
✅ Track trends. Rates and availability may shift daily. We’ll keep you in the loop with real-time updates.

Let’s Keep Things Moving

DOT Blitz Week is about road safety, but it’s also a major disruptor to freight movement. At Global Logistics, Inc., we help clients stay ahead of these challenges through proactive planning, strong carrier partnerships, and real-time visibility.

Need help navigating capacity this month or want a Blitz Week game plan? Let’s talk.