While truckers were competing in the National Truck Driving Championships and National Step Van Driving Championships in Columbus, Ohio last week, the folks who inspect those trucks on a regular basis had a competition of their own.
Jeremy Usener of the Texas Department of Public Safety was presented with the Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s North American Inspectors Championship held in Columbus at the same time.
Jeremy Usener of the Texas Department of Public Safety was presented with the Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award for the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s North American Inspectors Championship. (CVSA photo)Fifty-two commercial motor vehicle inspectors representing jurisdictions throughout North America gathered in Columbus, competed in the only event dedicated to testing, recognizing and awarding commercial motor vehicle inspector excellence. All of the inspection categories are timed events and the compilation of scores for those categories result in a grand champion.
An award is given to each inspector who scores the most points representing each of the three participating countries: Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. The following High Points Awards were presented during this year’s NAIC:
- Sean McAlister High Points Canada Award – Samantha Sarasin – Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- High Points Mexico Award – Luis León Merino Gómez – Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT)
- High Points United States Award – Jeremy Usener – Texas Department of Public Safety
Awards are given for first, second and third place for the following inspection categories:
The North American Standard Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods and Cargo Tank/Bulk Packagings Inspection includes additional inspection steps related to identifying hazardous materials/dangerous goods and markings, labeling, placarding, packaging, identification, etc.
- First Place – Jeremy Usener – Texas Department of Public Safety
- Second Place – Samantha Sarasin – Ontario Ministry of Transportation
- Third Place – Aaron Azbill – Arizona Department of Public Safety
The North American Standard Level V Passenger Carrier Vehicle Inspection is an inspection of motorcoaches and other passenger-carrying vehicles. Passenger vehicle certified inspectors are specially trained commercial motor vehicle enforcement personnel equipped to inspect both the motorcoach and driver, while also taking responsibility for the safety of passengers.
- First Place – Roberto Pinedo – Utah Department of Transportation
- Second Place – Trevor Todd – British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Third Place – Jeremy Usener – Texas Department of Public Safety
The North American Standard Level I Inspection is the most commonly performed inspection. It is a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness.
- First Place – Aaron Azbill – Arizona Department of Public Safety
- Second Place – Trevor Snodden – Alberta Justice Solicitor General
- Third Place – Roberto Pinedo – Utah Department of Transportation
The Team Award is given to the team with the highest combined score. The team with the highest score this year was the Yellow Team, which had the following members:
- Trevor Todd – British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
- Jason Gregory – Missouri State Highway Patrol
- Kris Hunzeker – Nebraska State Patrol
- Daniel Jacquez – New Mexico Department of Public Safety
- Brian Wilson – Ohio State Highway Patrol
- Jeremy Usener – Texas Department of Public Safety
- Roberto Pinedo – Utah Department of Transportation
- Matthew Nesto – Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Vermont
- Maxwell McGuire – Washington State Patrol
The John Youngblood Award of Excellence, is an honor NAIC contestants bestow upon a fellow inspector who exemplifies the high standards and unwavering dedication to the profession. This year, NAIC contestants voted to present the award to Matt Johnson from the Illinois State Police.
Next year’s NAIC is scheduled for Aug. 13-17, 2019, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
