New Out-Of-Service (OOS) Criteria for 2025

Effective April 1, 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) has introduced updates to the North American Standard Out-of-Service (OOS) criteria, primarily affecting brakes, tires, suspension, lighting, and drivers.

Driver OOS Criteria Updates

1. Accompanying Driver Restrictions – A driver in a prohibited status (e.g., due to a failed drug test) cannot accompany a commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holder for training.
2. Medical Certificate Requirement – Drivers without a valid medical certificate are now OOS regardless of whether they are transporting people or property.
3. Transporting Dangerous Goods (Canada) – If a driver’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) certificate lists specific hazmat classes, they can only transport those classes.

Vehicle OOS Criteria Updates

1. Brakes:
   • Electric Trailer Brakes – Inoperative brakes due to an unplugged electrical cable now result in a single OOS violation instead of multiple.
   • Air Brakes – A disconnected service gladhand now leads to a single OOS violation rather than multiple.
   • Crimped/Kinked Air Lines – This condition will no longer be an automatic OOS violation due to difficulty in determining air restriction.
   • Hydraulic Brakes – A hose/line marked for non-brake use is now an OOS condition.
2. Tractor Protection System:
   • Both the primary and secondary brake systems must be below 20 psi (previously, just one system falling below 20 psi could trigger an OOS violation).
3. Cargo Securement:
   • Loose dunnage or vehicle components are now explicitly classified as vehicle OOS conditions.
4. Lighting:
   • Projecting load lamps are now covered under OOS criteria separately from headlamps and tail lamps.
5. Suspensions & Tires:
   • Cracked or broken U-bolt bottom plates are now an OOS condition.
   • Mudflaps touching a tire (rubber only) are not an OOS condition.
   • Tires without an automatic inflation system (ATIS) are OOS if they have a noticeable leak in the tread area.
   • Radial and bias tire OOS conditions are now combined into one unified standard.

Key Takeaways:

• The changes streamline enforcement by reducing redundant violations (e.g., counting multiple inoperative brakes as one violation).
• The medical certificate rule now applies to all commercial drivers, whether transporting goods or passengers.
• The braking system updates address real-world challenges inspectors face during roadside checks.

For a full breakdown, CVSA has made a separate free document available detailing all changes.

At CNS, our DOT Compliance Programs focus on Proactive Safety Management (PSM), a mindset that will ensure your fleet’s safety and compliance is always in order and ahead of the FMCSA.

Our PSM Motor Carrier Program includes:

• ELD management
• Driver Qualification File Management
• New driver on-boarding
• Driver safety meetings
• CSA score management
• Policies and handbooks
• Vehicle maintenance
• and more

If you need help or have any questions, contact us at 888.260.9448 or info@cnsprotects.com and we would be glad to help.