Don’t get caught off guard—Tuesday, May 13 through Thursday, May 15 marks the return of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) International Roadcheck, widely known as DOT Week. This high-visibility inspection event stretches across North America and has real consequences for truckload capacity, rates, and service timelines.

Here’s what you need to know—and how to keep your freight moving during this annual disruption.

What is DOT Week?

DOT Week is the largest targeted enforcement program for commercial vehicles in the world. Law enforcement agencies across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico perform thousands of inspections over 72 hours to ensure both equipment and drivers are compliant with safety regulations.

In 2024, more than 67,000 inspections were conducted. Roughly 19% of vehicles were placed out of service, while 6% of drivers were sidelined due to violations. That’s a noticeable impact on available capacity.

When: Tuesday, May 13 – Thursday, May 15, 2025
Where: Highways in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
This Year’s Focus: Steering and suspension systems, along with tractor protection systems

These systems play a crucial role in vehicle control and stability. Trucks with worn or neglected components may be at higher risk of being taken out of service. Carriers should make sure their fleets are inspection-ready ahead of time.

How DOT Week Impacts the Freight Market

Even if your freight isn’t flagged for inspection, the entire network feels the shift during DOT Week. Why?
Many drivers voluntarily sit out during the week to avoid inspections altogether—especially those with older equipment or tight schedules. That ripple effect leads to:

Reduced carrier availability
Increased spot market rates
Delays on long-haul lanes and complex shipments
Re-routing away from heavily patrolled regions

Even fully compliant fleets are affected by longer wait times at inspection sites and added stress on schedules.
Need help building a DOT Week strategy now? Reach out—we’re already helping clients secure flexible solutions.

Tips for Shippers: How to Avoid DOT Week Disruptions

While no one can completely avoid the ripple effects of DOT Week, smart planning makes a big difference. Here’s how to stay ahead:

Ship early when possible: Give yourself and your carriers more flexibility to avoid peak inspection times.
Be flexible on pickup and delivery windows: Allow extra buffer time to absorb any unexpected delays.
Over-communicate key details: Confirm appointment times, accessorials, and any special delivery instructions upfront.
Prioritize time-sensitive freight: Consider using partial truckload or dedicated options for high-priority shipments.
Evaluate high-risk lanes: Long hauls or routes near inspection hot spots may need extra lead time or rate adjustments.

Keep Freight Moving—Even During the Blitz

Let’s be honest—no driver looks forward to DOT Week. But for shippers who plan ahead, it’s possible to turn a market disruption into an opportunity to stand out with consistent service and reliability.

At King Solutions, we help customers of all sizes stay on track during high-impact freight events like this. Whether it’s full-scale transportation management, e-commerce fulfillment, or warehousing, we’ve got options.
DOT Week 2025 is coming—let’s plan ahead. Contact us today.