The North American Inspector's Championship Time To Get On Board By Carmen Daecher

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will assume direction and control of the former International Inspector's Competition this year. With this change in management also comes a change in the name. In 1999, it will be known as The North American Inspector's Championship.

The change in management from South Carolina to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is a direct result of the elimination of Congressional funding for this event. In the past, this well managed event was almost wholly underwritten with Federal funds. Part of the challenge for CVSA is to develop and foster a stable funding.

If the monies do not come from the Federal Government, where will they come from? The Alliance will begin to set aside monies to conduct the event. The American Trucking Association, as it has done in the past, is donating generous space in Tampa, FL during the National Truck Driver's Championships for the North American Inspector's Competition. NAIC competitors are invited to the "Breakfast of Champions" and all NAIC attendees are invited guests at the Awards Banquet also fully sponsored by the American Trucking Association. But this is not nearly enough to conduct this event.

What can you do? Judges and volunteers are needed for the competitive events which comprise the competition. Judges are not paid for their involvement, nor are their expenses reimbursed. In other words, being a judge is a clear display of support and commitment to commercial vehicle safety and commercial vehicle inspector excellence.

Additional funds are needed to provide long term stability for this annual event. General contributions or sponsorships of specific events are available. Your contributions will be qualified as tax deductible. Obligating time, money, or both will show your support for commercial vehicle safety and commercial vehicle inspector excellence. Other organizations have sponsored awards or events during the previous competitions as a show of support for commercial vehicle inspectors and commercial vehicle safety.

Why be involved? Because you care about vehicle safety and because you are committed to improving the standard of excellence associated with it. Part of that standard of excellence is a consistency associated with vehicle and driver inspections throughout North America. Part of that standard is continuing education of inspectors related to equipment, technology, and commercial vehicle operations which affect their ability to serve us well. Part of that standard is the opportunity for the best commercial vehicle inspectors throughout North America to socialize and discuss with a broad representation of the industry safety issues that are common to all. And part of it is our acknowledgment that inspectors deserve our appreciation and respect for their role in commercial vehicle safety.

The North American Inspector's Championship, under the leadership of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, is a marvelous opportunity for inspectors throughout North America to exchange ideas with their peers; to gain new knowledge and insights and to share them with their peers in their own jurisdictions; and to return to their jurisdictions with a higher expectation of their role and impact in commercial vehicle safety. By setting the example for their fellow inspectors, improvements in the quality, uniformity, and consistency of commercial vehicle inspections should result. We, the industry, are the beneficiaries of this. In other words, an investment of your time and/or money in the North American Inspector's Competition ultimately is an investment in yourself. Enhancing and improving commercial vehicle safety benefits everyone.

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