DOT Blitz Week 2025: A Shipper’s Guide

From May 13–15, 2025, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will lead its annual International Roadcheck, also known as DOT Blitz Week. This three-day inspection event—conducted across the U.S., Canada and Mexico—places commercial vehicles and drivers under intense regulatory scrutiny. 

While the inspections target carriers, the consequences are often most visible in the shipper’s world: constrained capacity, elevated rates and delayed transit. To avoid disruption, shippers need to understand not just what DOT Blitz Week is—but how it reshapes the freight market during and after the event. 

What Is DOT Blitz Week?

DOT Blitz Week is a large-scale inspection initiative aimed at enforcing commercial driver and equipment safety standards. CVSA-certified inspectors conduct Level I, II, III and V inspections during this 72-hour window. In 2024, they conducted over 48,000 inspections, with 23% of Level I, II and V inspections resulting in out-of-service violations.

Each year includes specific focus areas. In 2025, enforcement will target:

• Tire condition and inflation
• False Record of Duty Status (RODS)

Why Carrier Behavior Should Matter to Shippers

To avoid risk during DOT Blitz Week, many carriers intentionally limit operations—and that directly affects your ability to secure cost-effective, reliable transportation.

• Owner-Operators Pull Back: Small fleets and independent drivers may park their trucks to reduce their exposure during DOT Week. With more than 90% of carriers in the U.S. operating six trucks or fewer, this behavior can significantly shrink overall market capacity.
• Spot Market Becomes a Premium Zone: As committed capacity shrinks, spot freight demand spikes. Even compliant carriers may raise rates to offset the heightened risk of being pulled for inspection.
• Inspection Delays Affect Utilization: Level I inspections can take 30–60 minutes per vehicle, which disrupts tight schedules and limits daily driving hours—especially for carriers already operating under tight HOS constraints.
• Documentation Is Under a Microscope: Drivers must be ready with current RODS, drug and alcohol compliance, and clear evidence of vehicle inspection routines. In 2025, inspectors are also checking Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse status and—starting June 25—drivers’ English proficiency, per new enforcement guidelines.

What This Means for Shippers

Even if you’re not on the roadside, DOT Blitz Week affects your ability to ship efficiently. Here’s how:

• Reduced Available Capacity
  Many compliant carriers get booked up early, while others simply take the week off. If you wait to tender your load, you may find fewer options or face inflated costs.
• Increased Freight Rates
  Expect Cost per Mile (CPM) increases of 4–5% week-over-week during DOT Blitz Week. This spike often extends into late June and early July, particularly for shippers moving freight on a transactional basis.
• Risk of Service Disruption
  If your carrier is pulled for inspection mid-route, your freight may be delayed—even if everything complies. And if they’re not? Your shipment could be grounded due to out-of-service violations.

How to Protect Your Freight

To maintain service levels and cost control, shippers need a proactive playbook:

• Tender Early: Give yourself time to secure compliant capacity. Avoid same-day or next-day requests during this high-risk period.
• Communicate Proactively with Your Carrier Network: Ask about readiness, documentation, and routing strategies. Align on expectations before tenders go out.
• Offer Flexible Shipping and Receiving Windows: Build in room for potential inspection delays to avoid detention charges or missed appointments.
• Want to Know How Carriers Are Preparing?
  Check out NTG’s carrier-focused DOT Blitz Week blog for more on how drivers and fleets are adapting—and what it means for your freight.

Don’t Wait to React—Plan to Stay Ahead

DOT Blitz Week is short in duration but long in impact. It’s not just a regulatory event—it’s a market-shaping moment that drives up rates and tightens availability across modes and lanes. Shippers that plan early and communicate clearly are best positioned to weather the volatility.

Need help planning for DOT Blitz Week 2025?
Reach out to your NTG representative today.

Scotty Ruszkowski

Scotty Ruszkowski is Director of Process and Product Improvement within NTG’s Revenue Management department. With over a decade of leadership experience at NTG—including roles in operations, pricing and enterprise management—Scotty plays a key role in aligning strategy across Sales, Capacity, Product and Data Science. His focus is driving continuous improvement in how NTG prices both contractual RFPs and spot market freight, ensuring competitive data-informed solutions for customers.