While most professional drivers are familiar with Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) Level 1, 2, and 3 inspections, there are actually 8 different levels of inspections. Here is a quick description of each:
Level 1: The big inspection where all driver and vehicle requirements are checked. This is the inspection where the officer goes underneath the vehicle to measure and check brakes.
Level 2: A driver inspection with a vehicle walk-around. This inspection is the same as a Level 1 except that the officer does not go underneath the truck.
Level 3: A driver-only inspection. Level 3’s only look at driver qualifications and documents like a license and logbook. Sometimes officers use a Level 3 to record driving violations like speeding.
Level 4: This inspection is only of a specific item on a vehicle.
Level 5: An inspection that checks the entire vehicle but without a driver being present (like a Level 1 without anything related to the driver).
Level 6: The Level 6 inspection is for those vehicles transporting radioactive waste/material.
Level 7: The jurisdictional mandated commercial vehicle inspection, which are special inspections specific to a certain area for specific types of vehicles.
Level 8: The North American standard electronic inspection where the vehicle is not stopped. In a Level 8 inspection, as much information about the vehicle is checked as possible without actually having the vehicle/driver interact with an officer.