New truck blitzes uncover thousands of safety violations, place 99 drivers out of service

Texas authorities placed nearly half of the commercial vehicles inspected during a recent enforcement operation in the Permian Basin out of service, part of a series of truck-safety initiatives conducted across six states.

The Texas Department of Public Safety conducted 351 commercial vehicle inspections in Mentone, an oilfield community in Loving County near the New Mexico border. Inspectors documented 1,935 violations — an average of 5. 5 violations per inspection — and placed 167 vehicles and 34 drivers out of service. The 47.

6% vehicle out-of-service rate was the highest reported among recent operations in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Indiana and Texas. Equipment problems accounted for 1,557 of the Texas violations.

Inspectors also identified 138 weight violations, 97 registration violations, 57 federal driver violations, 17 hazardous-materials violations and six oversize violations. Authorities issued 46 citations for the weight violations and awarded four Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspection decals.

The enforcement activity comes as state and local agencies continue concentrating inspections along heavily traveled freight routes, including Interstate 40 in Arizona, Interstate 4 in Florida and Interstate 74 near the Indiana-Ohio state line.

Authorities placed at least 99 drivers out of service during the recent enforcement actions: Arizona: 59 Texas: 34 Pennsylvania: 4 Florida: 1 Georgia: 1 Indiana reported eight out-of-service violations but did not specify whether they involved drivers or vehicles, so those were excluded from the total.

Arizona operation produces 1,042 violations The Arizona Department of Public Safety and Arizona Department of Transportation conducted a four-day Arrive Alive Arizona enforcement detail from Aug. 24-27 along I-40 near Flagstaff. The initiative was held in support of CVSA’s Brake Safety Week.

Troopers and ADOT Enforcement and Compliance Division personnel conducted 309 inspections, weighed 516 commercial vehicles and documented 1,042 violations. Authorities placed 60 vehicles and 59 drivers out of service after discovering 161 out-of-service violations.

Two drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, while three drivers were cited for drug-related violations and placed out of service. The Arizona Trucking Association also hosted a safety event Aug. 26 in Phoenix attended by 58 people.

DPS personnel discussed inspection procedures, brake violations, distracted driving and common safety problems, while Cummins representatives presented information about disc and drum brake components and maintenance.

Florida authorities target I-4 compliance The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Drug Interdiction Unit partnered with the Florida Highway Patrol’s commercial vehicle enforcement personnel Aug. 26 to check compliance with weigh-station and vehicle-safety requirements along I-4. Authorities conducted 45 traffic stops and 21 inspections.

Officers searched 12 commercial vehicles, issued seven citations and 38 warnings, and placed one driver out of service. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Drug Interdiction Unit conducted a commercial vehicle enforcement operation on Aug. 26 resulting in 45 traffic stops and 21 inspections.

(Photo: Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office) Pennsylvania officers issue 58 citations Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program officers with the Newtown Township Police Department conducted commercial vehicle enforcement throughout August.

Officers issued 58 citations and 72 warnings, placed four drivers and four commercial vehicles out of service, and made one arrest. The department said the inspections were intended to identify unsafe equipment, impaired or unqualified drivers and other violations before they contribute to crashes.

Georgia checkpoint produces DUI arrests The Smyrna Police Department and Georgia Department of Public Safety Commercial Vehicle Enforcement conducted a traffic-safety checkpoint along Windy Hill Road from approximately 10 p. m. Aug. 26 until 12:45 a. m. Aug. 27.

Smyrna police issued 41 citations and made 11 arrests, including four for DUI, six for unlicensed driving and one for driving with a suspended license. Officers also impounded seven vehicles and conducted five K-9 deployments.

Georgia commercial vehicle enforcement officers conducted 20 vehicle inspections, issued 16 citations and 15 warnings, impounded four vehicles and placed one driver out of service. The arrest and impoundment figures reported by Smyrna police covered the broader checkpoint and were not limited to commercial vehicle operators.

Indiana operation results in seven arrests Indiana State Police troopers conducted a targeted commercial vehicle patrol Aug. 31 along I-74 at the West Harrison Weigh Station near the Indiana-Ohio border in Dearborn County.

Troopers from the Versailles Post and Commercial Motor Vehicle Division conducted 94 inspections and identified eight out-of-service violations. Authorities i