The Delta Police Department is putting commercial vehicles under microscope this week.
The annual three-day commercial vehicle inspection blitz began yesterday, targeting trucks that might not be properly maintained and could pose a danger on local roads.
“Delta has one of the highest, if not the highest, ratio in B.C. of commercial vehicles transiting its roads on a daily basis and this will be one of the largest initiatives of its type in the province,” said department spokesperson A/Sgt. Sarah Swallow.
“The Delta Police Department is one of the very few police departments that maintain a dedicated team of vehicle inspectors,” Swallow added.
Teaming up with the provincial Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement Branch, as well as police and regulatory enforcement agencies from across the Lower Mainland and B.C., inspection stations will be set up a various locations throughout Delta over the three-day blitz.
“This is a great example of federal, provincial and municipal agencies working together with community support to increase the safety level on our roads,” Swallow said.
During the annual blitz, officers inspect hundreds of trucks in an initial visual inspection. Any vehicle that looks like it could have a problem is then subject to a secondary, more thorough inspection where officers look at the general condition of the truck – tires, brakes, lights, steering and load security – as well as mechanical components. The inspectors also look at driver licensing and for signs of fatigue.
After the inspection, vehicles are given either a pass, violation present or out of service designation. Any trucks with an out of service designation are not allowed to proceed until the problem is fixed and there are mechanics, tire companies and tow trucks on standby to help address any issues.
Because the inspections target vehicles that look like they might have an issue, the out of service rating is high, usually around 40 per cent.
