Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO IMPROVE COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND ENFORCEMENT BY PROVIDING GUIDANCE, EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY FOR ENFORCEMENT AND INDUSTRY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.
- Income
- $16.2 million
- Spending
- $15.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 98%
- Reserves
- 3.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 66%
- Employees
- 37
- Volunteers
- 298
- Highest pay
- $526,705, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.7 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 54% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1598% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (public benefit, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (7)
- $10.4 million spent. CONTRACTS AND GRANTS - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, AND THE PIPELINE & HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, CVSA MANAGES VARIOUS GRANTS EDUCATING THE INDUSTRY AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AREAS OF BRAKE SAFETY, DRIVER SAFETY, HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, INSPECTOR DEVELOPMENT, DISTRACTED DRIVING, AND MORE. THIS EDUCATION IS DELIVERED THROUGH TRAINING, PUBLICATIONS, PUBLIC OUTREACH, DVDS, MEDIA SUPPORT, AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
- $2.6 million spent. CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS - CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, AND EVENTS ARE HELD TO DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY AND SECURITY INFORMATION AND EDUCATION. ATTENDEES PARTICIPATE FROM ALL NORTH AMERICAN STATES AND PROVINCES' DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, LAW ENFORCEMENT, REGULATORS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND INDUSTRY.
- $648,909 spent. COMMITTEE SUPPORT - CVSA'S DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEES, ALONG WITH INSPECTION, ENFORCEMENT/AWARENESS, INDUSTRY, AWARD AND EVENT PROGRAMS, THAT MEET IN-PERSON TWICE ANNUALLY AT OUR SPRING CVSA WORKSHOP AND THE CVSA ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION IN THE FALL.
- $533,374 spent. PRODUCTS AND SERVICES - EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, TOOLS, AND DECALS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED AND SOLD TO ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS, ASSOCIATE MEMBERS, LOCAL MEMBERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC DESCRIBING THE TECHNICAL CRITERIA FOR ROADSIDE INSPECTIONS. SPECIALIZED TOOLS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO ASSIST THE INSPECTION PROCESS.
- $375,136 spent. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
- $254,563 spent. MEMBERSHIP
- $57,790 spent. OUTREACH AND INDUSTRY ACTIVITIES
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.