Half of the commercial trucks inspected during a two-day enforcement blitz in the Greater Toronto Area had safety defects, and 100 of them were ordered off the road until repairs were completed.
The annual Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Blitz, hosted by the Halton Regional Police Service, was held at Woodbine Mohawk Park on October 6 and 7. More than 100 police officers and ministry inspectors from police services and agencies across the GTA and Southwestern Ontario took part.
Of the 312 trucks subjected to mandatory inspections, 158 — 51 per cent — were found with prescribed defects. One hundred trucks, or 32 per cent, were placed out of service until critical repairs were finished, Halton police said.
Inspectors flagged a range of problems, including driver licensing issues, incomplete daily trip inspections, mechanical fitness, load security and truck weights. Brake and tire defects accounted for most of the mechanical problems found.
The inspections went beyond standard checks. A Ministry of Transportation mobile field X-ray unit was deployed to verify compliance with load security rules and the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act. Ministry of Finance inspectors also carried out 185 inspections related to the Fuel Tax Act, the International Fuel Tax Agreement and the Tobacco Tax Act.
In total, 195 charges were laid and another 44 written warnings were issued. Nine trucks were in such poor condition that their licence plates were seized, meaning the owners must repair the vehicles and have them recertified before they can be re-plated and returned to the road.
“The Halton Regional Police Service is pleased to host this important event and grateful to the many services and agencies from across the province that have come together to help ensure the continued safety of commercial vehicles travelling our roadways.”
Deputy Chief of Specialized Support Kevin Maher, in a Halton Regional Police Service news release, said the results reflect the inspectors' dedication, adding, “This year's results are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our inspectors, while also serving as a reminder to commercial vehicle operators of the importance of ensuring their vehicles are properly maintained and fit for daily operation.”
The officers and ministry inspectors who conduct the checks receive specialized training in commercial truck inspections and are certified by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance.
Halton police say the annual blitz aims to keep unsafe trucks off roads shared by commuters across the region.
