Cst. Usipiuk writes a ticket during the commercial vehicle enforcement blitz.
Cst. Usipiuk writes a ticket during the commercial vehicle enforcement blitz.
Cst. Usipiuk writes a ticket during the commercial vehicle enforcement blitz.

Delta: One of BC’s largest commercial vehicle checks took place in Delta last week, with 80 police and enforcement officers targeting 357 vehicles for a full inspection, pulling nearly half of them off the road.

Delta has some of the highest numbers of commercial vehicles on its roads each day. That’s why Delta Police places a high emphasis on truck and commercial vehicle safety, with a large scale annual blitz, such as the one that just took place, along with monthly checks and daily regular enforcement.  Last week’s campaign, organized by Delta Police in partnership with Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE), brought together police, bylaw and government enforcement agencies.

The blitz took place Sept. 25-27 over six locations in Delta, and the focus was all commercial vehicles – large to small – transporting commercial goods.

“The majority of the issues our officers spotted were tire, rim and wheel defects, braking system problems, and concerns with whether cargo was properly secured,” notes Constable Ken Usipiuk, of the Delta Police Vehicle Inspection unit.

“This was a targeted campaign, focusing on vehicles that do not appear to be meeting safety regulations and standards,” explains Steve Bauer, Deputy Regional Manager CVSE. “Our top concern was mechanical fitness of the vehicle.” This approach allowed officers to concentrate on pulling unsafe vehicles off the road, while allowing those appearing to be in good condition to quickly proceed.

Of the 357 vehicles targeted for full inspection, 39 passed with no defects, 152 required minor repairs to be completed at a later time and 158 required repairs to be completed prior to proceeding.

Drivers were issued 110 violation tickets during the 3 days, totaling more than $25,000 in fines, as well as approximately $12,000 in bylaw tickets.

“Officers saw a full range of issues, from minor things, like a missing fuel cap, to a major steering malfunction. The whole front axle was shifting,”  ” says Cst. Usipiuk. He explains that upon inspecting a highway tractor trailer combination, the steering axle was found to be loose from the suspension. If not discovered, it had the potential for a catastrophic end result, with a total loss of steering.

During the enforcement efforts last week, many from the trucking industry weighed in on social media to reinforce their concerns for driver and public safety.

“Drivers and those in the industry are definitely appreciative of these efforts,” notes Steve Bauer. “The overwhelming majority of vehicles are being operated in a safe and professional manner, and checks such as those we conducted last week are really about the safety of the vehicle, the driver and ultimately the public.”