Public Service Commission Chairman Lane’s column: 72-hour roadcheck

PRESS RELEASE

Officers from the Public Service Commission’s Transportation Division showed their expertise during a recent nationwide check on commercial vehicles on the roadways of the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Thirty-three of our officers, along with five state troopers, participated in the 72-hour International Roadcheck inspection period in West Virginia.

Those officers performed 402 inspections and identified 422 safety violations.

Of those, 92 violations resulted in either the driver or vehicle being placed out of service.

Enforcement officers in West Virginia were stationed at weight stations on the east and westbound lanes of Interstate-64, as well as the westbound lanes of Interstate-68 near Coopers Rock, outside Morgantown. Additional officers conducted inspections of commercial motor vehicles and their drivers along several other highways throughout the state.

Our officers primarily conduct a thorough, 37-step inspection procedure that reviews each vehicle’s roadworthiness and the driver’s record of duty status, including compliance with hours-of-service regulations.

This year, the focus areas were accurate recordkeeping on the drivers’ electronic logging devices and ensuring that cargo was secured properly.

The 72-hour inspection program is under the sponsorship of the National Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.

Nationwide, 4,021 inspections were undertaken in the program this year. Of that total, 574 vehicles – 14.3 percent – were restricted because of brake-related issues.

More than 90 percent of the inspections followed the 37-step procedure used in West Virginia.

Furthermore, this fine division recently received several law enforcement excellence awards this year from the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

The Commission placed second in the categories of speed enforcement and electronic citation usage. We were fifth in seat-belt enforcement. 

We were ably represented at the awards ceremony by Captain A.W. Ryan; paralegal Robin Lassak, and Major/Manager Keith Jeffrey.

I am extremely proud of the record this fine division of the Public Service Commission produces each year. This is truly outstanding work by a group of dedicated individuals.

The Transportation Division inspects commercial motor vehicles and ensures the safety of our roads, and that means your safety.