Roadcheck inspection blitz uncovers the good, bad and ugly
On May 16, Navpreet Singh, the driver of a dump truck, was directed to the vehicle inspection lanes along Steeles Avenue in Halton Hills, Ontario. His thoughts were likely racing as he approached the lanes.
Did the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) officer who pulled him over observe a problem with his vehicle or did he commit a traffic violation?
Singh complied with Constable Darren Bonney's instructions, a Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA)-certified inspector, and waited patiently while his vehicle was inspected.
HRPS officers stopped commercial vehicles as part of International Roadcheck, the CVSA's 72-hour commercial vehicle and driver inspection and enforcement initiative until May 18.
This year, Canadian, American, and Mexican inspectors are focusing on anti-lock braking systems and cargo security.
After approximately forty minutes, Bonney proclaimed Singh's vehicle to be defect-free, congratulated the driver, and affixed a CVSA decal to his windscreen. "I am relieved to have passed the inspection. It is also beneficial for the company I drive for, Singh said as he drove away.
Other inspected vehicles did not yield the same favourable results. As a continuous procession of vehicles entered the inspection lane, officers continued to identify a variety of defects.
Among the defects discovered were overloaded vehicles, insecure cargo, brake issues, and a leaking fuel tank clogged with grease.
Constable Bonney stated that a pre-trip inspection is equally essential for the driver and the company. Instead of being discovered by an officer during inspection, defects can be remedied prior to shipment.
"I prefer driver education over enforcement. "This is why we are on social media, send out emails, and engage in publicity: to educate the public."
Bonney and other present officers stated that they stop vehicles with visible defects. The majority of vehicles in the inspection route on the first day of Roadcheck this year were dump trucks, given the region's high concentration of construction sites and quarries.
Constable Mark Dickson, a seasoned CVSA-certified inspector, stated that overburdened vehicles from construction sites are a significant issue in the region. The masses consist primarily of bentonite or clay-based material.
"The owner-operators are sometimes aware that they are overloaded but are unable to say no," he explained. They are compensated per cargo, and if they deny, they will not receive the load.
"We try to get to the job sites to deal with these companies that are loading the trucks and to charge the operators who overload the vehicles," he added.
According to Dickson, hauliers must pay approximately $50 per fill for a dump permit at quarries. If they are able to remove 400 truckloads of material from a job site with only 300 truckloads, they save the company money. "One hundred times $50. Loaders are urged to transfer additional material into the vehicles."
The police are not attempting to force owner-operators out of business, he added. "However, we have a responsibility to the region to ensure that these overloaded trucks do not destroy the roads," he said.
Dickson also remarked that paying drivers by the cargo incentivizes acceleration and unsafe driving practises as they race to complete as many loads as possible. As vehicles are operated for extended durations, maintenance declines.
It is a toxic combination of situations. The industry must end the pay-per-load predicament. He stated that a fixed rate wage would be preferable.
He has also observed four- or five-vehicle bands of garbage hauliers. This is intentional, he explained, because the mindset is that there is a 25% or 20% possibility of being pulled over.
A nearby officer confirmed this, indicating a vehicle awaiting inspection. He stated, "There were five of them leaving the job site." This individual was the one I stopped.
6,000 kg overweight
The cargo was evident atop the trailer's height. It was discovered to be 6,000 kilograms overweight upon weighing.
Halton Hills officials who visited the inspection site stated that residents desire secure roads and that vehicle drivers must be responsible for safety.
Tool in a toolbox
The town's director of transportation, Maureen Van Ravens, described the inspection operation as a tool. Driver education is the first measure, followed by enforcement.
Regional councilman Clark Somerville stated that vehicles on the road must be secure and obey the laws.
By midday, inspectors had already seized five commercial vehicles and issued dozens of citations.
The uniforms of the police officers were caked with dirt and grime. Some individuals had oil on their limbs and faces as they inspected one vehicle after another.
Some drivers were issued citations, while others were placed out of service until the defects were remedied. One vehicle was to be towed away after having its license plates removed.
The inspectors made it a point to explain the circumstance to each motorist and hoped that the inspection would also serve as a safety lesson. "It's a better day if the driver learns something after the inspection," stated Constable Dickson.