TDOS Participates in Operation Roadcheck 2009

NASHVILLE --- The Tennessee Department of Safety is participating in Operation Roadcheck 2009, a 72-hour commercial vehicle campaign in the U.S., Canada and Mexico sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (www.CVSA.org ). The goals of Operation Roadcheck 2009 are to increase commercial truck and bus safety and security and to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial trucks and motor vehicles. The event, which takes place simultaneously across North America, will begin at midnight, Tuesday, June 2, and continue through midnight, Thursday, June 4, 2009.

 

During the 72-hour period, Tennessee State Troopers will conduct round-the-clock roadside inspections at all nine weigh stations along Tennessee highways. Troopers will conduct Level I inspections on all trucks stopped with added emphasis on safety belt enforcement, operating authority, insurance, and CDL status checks of commercial vehicle drivers.

 

“Tennessee routinely conducts commercial vehicle inspections across the state, including a recent Roadside Inspection at the Haywood County Scales on I-40 and an Operation STOP on I-81 in Greene County,” stressed Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell.   “We are pleased to participate once again in the National Roadcheck enforcement program with CVSA and FMCSA to focus attention on commercial vehicle safety and security.”

 

During Operation Roadcheck 2008, Tennessee State Troopers conducted round-the-clock roadside inspections at all nine weigh stations in the state, and stopped trucks at random points along roads. In all, 607 commercial vehicles were inspected during the 72-hour period, resulting in 56 commercial vehicles and 13 commercial drivers being placed out-of-service. Nationally, hours-of-service violations continue to be the most common reasons for drivers being placed out-of-service at Roadcheck. Inspectors put 20.8 percent of vehicles out-of-service during the 2008 event, with unsafe brakes the most common violation.

 

“Commercial vehicle inspection is crucial to the overall safety mission of the Tennessee Highway Patrol,” says THP Commander, Colonel Mike Walker. “Enforcement sends a clear message that we will put you out of service if you are violating the law or driving an unsafe commercial vehicle.”

 

The major objective of Operation Roadcheck 2009 is to conduct Level 1 inspections and remove unsafe commercial vehicle drivers and vehicles from Tennessee highways. Level 1 inspections are the most thorough and comprehensive inspections and involve all components of the commercial vehicle and driver documents.  Troopers will also be conducting Motorcoach inspections at point of destination locations.

 

During the recent National Passenger Carrier Strike Force Enforcement in conjunction with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), May 8-21, the Tennessee Highway Patrol inspected 182 motorcoaches and schools buses throughout the state. Eleven buses were placed out of service and 21 compliance reviews were conducted on passenger carrier businesses. Troopers completed 81 point of destination inspections and placed four vehicles out of service.