MDOT taking part in three-day international road check

(The following press release comes from MDOT.)

For three consecutive days, Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) Enforcement Officers will be performing continuous inspections of commercial motor vehicles and their drivers as a part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) 72 hour International Roadcheck. “Through midnight on June 7, as part of the 72 hour Roadcheck, MDOT enforcement officers will be at stations across the state inspecting commercial vehicles and their drivers to ensure they are operating legally,” said Melinda McGrath, P.E., MDOT executive director. “These inspections check compliance with the law, but also educate commercial drivers about safety and hopefully reduce the number of crashes and fatalities on our roads.”

During this marathon of inspections, a special emphasis is being placed on hours of service compliance. The Roadcheck, which will take place throughout North America, includes several sites in Mississippi with locations in Southaven, Olive Branch, Iuka, Corinth, Fulton, Meridian, Moss Point, Bay Saint Louis, Picayune, McComb and Vicksburg. “The Roadcheck consists of a 37-step procedure that involves an examination of both the driver and vehicle,” said Chief Willie Huff, MDOT enforcement director. “Officers will inspect items such as the braking system, coupling devices, exhaust system, frame, fuel system, lights, safe loading, steering mechanism, suspension, tires, windshield wipers and emergency exits on buses, among other things.” Drivers will also be asked to provide specific documentation and checked for seat belt usage and the use of alcohol or drugs. International Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial motor vehicles in the world, with nearly 17 trucks or buses inspected, on average, every minute in Canada, the United States and Mexico during a 72-hour period. In 2017, MDOT Officers from inspected over 2,024 vehicles as a part of the Roadcheck during which approximately 278 vehicles and 39 drivers were placed out of service due to violations. “MDOT has zero tolerance for unsafe commercial vehicle drivers,” said Huff. “We are proud to participate in the annual Roadcheck to ensure the safety of Mississippi’s highways. Participating in an event such as this helps keep our roads, and those traveling on them, that much safer.” MDOT’s Office of Enforcement is responsible for enforcing commercial vehicle safety regulations set forth by both federal and state laws, ensuring the safety of commercial motor vehicles and the general public traveling Mississippi highways. MDOT Enforcement Officers also issue permits for overweight and oversized loads in order to keep Mississippi roads and bridges safe while facilitating economic growth and development across the state. To learn more about International Roadcheck, visit https://cvsa.org/news-entry/2018-roadcheck/.