CVIP in Alberta | What to Expect When You Bring Your Commercial Vehicle to Overdrive Heavy Duty

Dec 9, 2019 | Blog

Do you own and operate a commercial vehicle in Alberta? Section 19 of the Vehicle Inspection Regulation states that all commercial vehicles in Alberta must pass an inspection before being legally allowed to operate on the road. Each commercial vehicle must display the decal from a passed CVIP (Commercial Vehicle Inspection Program) and the certificate must be in the vehicle and accessible should the vehicle be stopped by authorities.  If you are new to operating a commercial vehicle in Alberta and are unsure if your vehicle is required to have the inspection done, click here for more details.

Overdrive Heavy Duty is an Authorized Alberta Transportation CVIP facility and we take each inspection seriously. Our technicians go through every inspection with great detail to ensure all vehicles leaving our shop meet the Alberta legal stands for commercial vehicles. 

So what does a CVIP (or CVI) involve and what can you expect when you bring your vehicle into Overdrive to get one? 

Part 1 | Powertrain

Every inspection begins with section 1 of the CVIP manual, powertrain. This portion of the inspection includes the following checks: 

  • Accelerator pedal 
  • Exhaust & Emissions Systems
  • Drive Shaft/s
  • Clutch & Clutch Pedal
  • Engine & Transmission mounts
  • Emergency shutdowns
  • Engine Safety Features  
  • Gear position indicator 
  • Accessory drive belt
  • Fuel system & liquid fuel systems (if applicable) 

Part 2  | Suspension

  • Axle assemblies
  • Springs
  • Air suspension
  • Shock absorbers
  • Suspension and frame attachments. 

Part 3 | Brakes

  • Air compressor and air supply system
  • Brake pedal & trailer hand valve
  • Proportioning inversion or modulating valves
  • Park brake system
  • Brake chambers, drums, shoe/lining thickness 
  • Pad and rotor thickness on disc brake systems
  • S-Cams 
  • ABS systems
  • Stability control
  • Hydraulic system components if applicable

Part 4 | Steering

  • Steering control linkage
  • Power steering system (hydraulic & electric) 
  • Steering operation
  • Kingpins
  • Self-steer & controlled-steer axle (if applicable)

Part 5 | Instruments and Auxiliary Equipment

  • Fire extinguisher and hazard warning kit 
  • Horn (air & electric) 
  • Instruments (speedometer, odometer)
  • Windshield wiper & washer 
  • Heater and windshield defroster 
  • If applicable- fuel burning auxiliary heater, chain/headache wrack, first-aid kit, accessibility features and equipment, auxiliary controls and devices. 

Part 6 | Lights

  • Required lamps (headlights, brake lights, turn signals, marker lamps)
  • Reflectors
  • Interior lamps & dash panel lamps
  • Headlight aim
  • Any additional lamps if applicable (eg. safety lights on buses) 

Part 7 | Electrical

  • Wiring
  • Batteries
  • Trailer cord
  • Alternator output 

Part 8 | Body

  • The hood or engine enclosure
  • Tilt cab
  • Cab suspension
  • Cargo body/ tank
  • Frames rails and mounts
  • Cab or cargo doors
  • Refrigeration or heating unit
  • Bumpers, windshield, all windows, sun visors and all mirrors 
  • Seats & seatbelts 
  • Fenders and mud flaps 
  • Landing gear and sliding axle assembly on trailers
  • Aerodynamic devices 

For buses, the following is also part of section 8 in the inspection process: overall interior condition, service door & emergency exits and passenger compartment windows. 

Part 9 | Tire & Wheel

  • Tire tread condition and depth
  • Tire sidewall and manufacturer markings
  • Tire inflation pressure
  • Wheel hubs and bearings
  • Wheels and rim condition
  • Wheel fasteners (nuts, bolts & studs) 

Part 10 | Coupling Devices

  • Hitch assembly, structure & attached components
  • Secondary attachments (safety chains or cables) 
  • Pintle hook, pin-hitch, coupler hitch or ball-type hitch
  • Roll-coupling hitch
  • Automated coupling device
  • Fifth-wheel coupler
  • Ballbearing type turntable on trailer

The sections above are based on the legal inspection requirements as laid out by the Alberta Commercial Vehicle Inspection manual and are the 10 sections of a CVIP that your vehicle will undergo when it comes to our shop. All commercial vehicles requiring a CVIP will be assessed accordingly. To see a more in-depth breakdown of each section and to better understand the process of a CVIP, you can read through the manual here.

Any part of the vehicle that is found to be damaged, rusted, cracked, missing or inoperative will require fixing or replacement before our technicians can sign off the inspection. Overdrive understands how important it is to spend less time in a shop and more time on the road so we stock a wide range of parts that allows our techs to quickly make these repairs without a long wait time to get you back on the road and working as quickly as possible. 

What else should you know about the CVIP process? 

There are a lot of rules (262 pages of rules to be exact) and they are always changing.  How are you supposed to keep up with it all? We can help. Commercial trucks and tractor-trailers are required to have annual inspections done and buses are required to complete semi-annual inspections. Overdrive provides its clients with reminders that their CVIP is due, so there is no need to worry about not staying current with your inspection. 

Even if you have your own in-house maintenance shop, only a certified technician can perform and sign off on the inspections. Overdrive Heavy Duty in Bonnyville Alberta is a certified facility with highly trained techs on staff. The safety of other drivers on the road is just as important to our shop as your safety and no vehicle leaves our bay without a perfect pass. 

To book your commercial vehicle in for its next CVIP, contact us today.