Falsification of Records of Duty Status was the second most-cited driver violation in all of North America in 2025 — 58,382 violations. Five of the top ten driver violations last year were HOS or ELD-related. CVSA chose this as the 2026 focus because the data demanded it.

Inspectors aren’t just looking for malfunctions. They’re trained to find manipulation — unassigned drive time, suspicious data gaps, log edits with no notation, and records that are too clean to be real. They’ll cross-reference ELD data against fuel receipts, toll records, and GPS history looking for inconsistencies.

• Unassigned driving time — cross-checked against fuel receipts, tolls, and GPS pings to identify miles driven off the clock
• Data gaps from device disconnections — missing ELD data is treated as a red flag, not an explanation
• Log edits without required notation — every edit must be preserved with a stated reason; undocumented changes are a violation
• Suspiciously perfect records — inspectors are specifically trained to flag logs with zero corrections, which suggests scrubbing rather than accurate record-keeping
• Inability to operate the ELD — drivers must demonstrate the device and transfer log data on demand; inability to do so is its own violation

At Taylor, we run Samsara across our entire fleet. That’s not a Roadcheck week decision — it’s how we’ve operated for years. Every driver logs in through the Samsara Driver App. Every log entry, every edit, every data transfer is captured automatically with a full audit trail. There’s no gray area, no missing time, and no room for manipulation — by design.

• Real-time HOS monitoring — dispatchers can see every driver’s hours status live, before a violation occurs, not after
• Automated DVIR — pre- and post-trip — captured through the Samsara Driver App with photo verification, so every inspection is documented and timestamped
• Fault code monitoring — Samsara flags mechanical issues in real time so we address them before they become roadside events or inspection violations
• Instant data transfer capability — every Taylor driver can transfer log data to an inspector on demand in seconds; it’s a practiced skill, not an assumption
• FMCSA-compliant operations end to end — ELD, IFTA, drug and alcohol testing, recordkeeping, and incident documentation are all maintained to federal standard

In 2025, over 18,000 violations involved cargo that fell, leaked, or spilled — and another 16,000 were cited for unsecured vehicle equipment. Inspectors check every tie-down, every attachment point, and everything loose on the trailer. For Taylor’s food-grade and intermodal freight, this is something we take seriously 365 days a year.

• Minimum tie-down count: 1 per 10 ft of cargo, minimum 2 total — and all must meet working load limit requirements
• All chains, straps, and binders must be serviceable — inspectors look for cuts, fraying, broken hooks, and worn fittings
• Dunnage, tarps, blocks, spare tires, pallet jacks, and all loose equipment on the trailer must be secured — not just the load itself
• Cargo must be re-checked within 50 miles of loading, then every 150 miles or 3 hours — this is driver protocol, not just policy

Roadcheck week creates real disruption across the industry. Inspection delays add time to transit, out-of-service violations strand loads, and capacity tightens when trucks get pulled. For customers shipping with carriers who aren’t prepared, this is a stressful week. For Taylor customers, it should be business as usual — with a few things to keep in mind.

• Build in transit buffer on hard delivery windows. A Level I inspection takes 45–90 minutes. We’ll communicate proactively if a driver is delayed at an inspection station — but time-sensitive shipments should have a buffer built in.
• Visibility doesn’t go dark. Samsara gives us real-time location on every truck. If your driver is stopped at a weigh station, we know it — and we’ll keep you informed, not guessing.
• Our trucks are road-ready every day, not just this week. Taylor’s planned maintenance program and Samsara fault monitoring mean we’re not scrambling to get compliant before May 12. The work is already done.
• Our safety record is public — and we’re proud of it. Taylor’s FMCSA SMS profile reflects how we operate year-round. We don’t have anything to hide, and we don’t ask our customers to take it on faith.