North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) Trooper Gerald Baumgartner recently represented North Dakota at the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC). The NAIC is the only event dedicated to testing, recognizing and awarding commercial motor vehicle inspector excellence. Fifty-two jurisdictions sent their best inspector to compete against other top inspectors from across North America for the 26th annual competition held in Columbus Oh, August 14-18. The event is held in conjunction with the American Trucking Association’s National Truck and Step Van Driving Championship each year to help foster an environment of cooperation between enforcement and industry in Highway Safety.
Baumgartner participated in the six competition categories: North American Standard Level I Inspection; North American Standard Level I Inspection Procedure; North American Standard Hazardous Materials/Dangerous Goods Inspection; North American Standard Cargo Tank/Other Bulk Packaging Inspection; North American Standard Level V Passenger Carrier Vehicle Inspection; and North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria Exam. The six events are timed and the compilation of scores result in naming a Grand Champion, which is the highest honor for a commercial motor vehicle roadside inspector. This year’s winner was Jeremy Usener of the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Baumgartner finished 20th overall; placing 8th in the NAS HM/Dangerous Good Inspections; 11th in NAS OOS Criteria Exam, and 14th in NAS Motor Coach Inspections. Baumgartner has been an NDHP Trooper since 2009. He is currently stationed in Dickinson.
NDHP Trooper John Sova also participated in the event in his position as the CVSA Vehicle Committee Chair. As chair, Sova was responsible for overseeing the Motor Coach and Level I portions of the competition.
NAIC competitors also received training on the latest commercial motor vehicle safety trends, technologies, standards and inspection procedures while sharing insights, ideas, techniques and experiences with other inspectors during the event. NAIC is sponsored by the CVSA and has been recognized by the American Society of Association Executives as an event that “Advances America.”
