Roadcheck 2016’s tire focus an opportunity for sales

This year’s International Roadcheck will focus squarely on tire safety — creating an excellent sales opportunity for tire dealers across North America.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 29th annual Roadcheck from June 7 to 9 will see an average of 17 trucks or buses inspected every single minute across the U.S., Canada and Mexico over a 72-hour period. Some 10,000 CVSA-certified local, state, provincial, territorial and federal inspectors will check trucks and buses for various elements of motor carrier, vehicle and driver safety.

Each year International Roadcheck places special emphasis on a category of violations and this year it’s tire safety. That means inspectors will be measuring the tire tread depth, checking tire pressure, checking to make sure that no items are lodged between dual tires and examining the overall condition of the tire to make sure no deep cuts or bulges exist in the sidewalls of the tire. Checking a vehicle’s tires is always part of roadside inspections, but the CVSA wants to highlight the importance of tire safety as a reminder to drivers and carriers.

How do I leverage Roadcheck to sell tires?

That has provided an opportunity for truck and bus tire dealers to help their customers get in ahead of Roadcheck with a friendly reminder to check their tires early and schedule for a new set if their tires are starting to show signs of wear.

Here are some great marketing ideas tires dealers can run over the next six weeks before Roadcheck starts.

• Email your database of truck and bus tire customers and alert them to Roadcheck’s tire focus. Here’s a full list of tire violations which might be worth including, so drivers are left with no doubt about what the inspectors will be looking for. Here also are some tips for avoiding tire violations.

• Change your regular print or radio advertising to include an alert to truck and bus drivers and fleet owners in the wider community about Roadcheck’s tire safety focus and invite them into your store. Include details about which truck and bus tires you have in stock and their price points.

• Offer incentives like free additional services or discounts to get them through your door instead of your competitors’. Include it in your advertising and newsletters, making it clear to drivers they will need to take advantage of the offer before Roadcheck starts on June 7.

• If truck and bus drivers are coming into your workshop for other services, make them aware of Roadcheck’s tire focus and offer to inspect their vehicles.

What do we know about the inspections?

Roadcheck inspectors carry out the 37-step North American Standard Level I Inspection on vehicles. It includes an examination of both the driver and vehicle. Drivers are required to provide items such as their license, endorsements, medical card and hours-of-service documentation, and they may be checked for seat belt usage and the use of alcohol and/or drugs.

The vehicle inspection includes checking items such as the braking system, securement of cargo, coupling devices, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, lights, steering mechanism, driveline/driveshaft, suspension, tires, van and open-top trailer bodies, wheels and rims, windshield wipers, and emergency exits on buses.

International Roadcheck is a CVSA program organized in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico).

Since its inception in 1988, more than 1.4 million roadside inspections have been conducted during International Roadcheck.

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Roadcheck 2016’s tire focus an opportunity for sales