72-hour commercial vehicle inspection period starts
International collaboration focuses on load securement, safety
For the next 72 hours, 10,000 federal, state, provincial and local inspectors will examine commercial vehicles throughout North America.
The inspections are part of International Roadcheck, which kicked-off today at the Spokane port of entry station at state line. This year inspections will focus on cargo securement, although inspectors will do full vehicle inspections.
Two demonstration trucks were inspected after the press conference. Officials emphasized the importance of these inspections on preventing accidents. The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance estimates International Roadcheck has prevented 318 deaths since 1988.
“If I can walk out of my career and say I saved one person’s life, I’d say I had a successful career,” said Florida highway patrol Capt. Derek Barrs.
Over the next 72 hours 17 buses or trucks will be checked every minute throughout North America. Last year 18.7 percent of vehicles inspected were placed out of service – with 29.5 percent of those violations being brake related.
“It’s not our goal to write tickets,” said Washington state patrol Capt. Mike Dahl. “It’s [our goal] to change behavior.”