Another truck safety enforcement blitz is coming up this month. Unlike many others though, Operation Safe Driver Week also focuses some attention on non-commercial drivers.
Every year during Operation Safe Driver Week, law enforcement across North America works to increase enforcement and educate the public in order to reduce the number of deaths resulting from crashes involving large trucks.
According to the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the U.S., Canada, and Mexico all participate “with the goal of increasing commercial vehicle and non-commercial vehicle traffic enforcement, safety belt enforcement, driver roadside inspections and driver regulatory compliance.”
But while there is an educational component, this is still definitely an enforcement blitz. Last year officials issued 20,648 warnings and citations.
This year Operation Safe Driver Week will run from October 15th through the 21st. In the past, officials have been focused on moving violations, speeding, distracted driving, seatbelt usage, and more.
Source: overdrive, cvsa, truckinginfo, cvsa
Andrew H says
They really need to focus on the cars. But it’s impossible to pull over everyone.
Why they pick on trucks. More money per stop.
Brian White says
Answer: EZ targets. There is already a plethora of rules & regs applicable to coml trucks, every one of which the driver is responsible for knowing and complying with. Any LEO can stop a coml truck. I guarantee that if that LEO wants to find something wrong, they will, and they don’t have to look that hard. Theoretically, one little drip from engine, transmission, etc. can shut you down.
R.J. says
The various states and Fed have to fill the coffers somehow. It will end up like Mexico where when a truck is pulled over the cop walks up to your vehicle, not with their gun out but with their hand….
Tommy Z says
You want an “operation safe driver program” that really does something? Re-evaluate every one of the so called “CDL holders” that just graduated at the top of their classes from these CDL mills. Create a secondary education system after they graduate from the initial class that teaches them the real basics, not the nonsense they are breezing through.
Mack says
They can go eff themselves. I have not entered a scale in 10 years and don’t plan on doing it any time soon. Having said that I am a safe, attentive driver, do my pre trips, check my wheels and tires every stop and am polite and accomodating to other drivers. I drive defensively. I don’t need a self-important officious know-it-all in uniform to tell me when I’m safe and when I’m not safe. I know when to stop, when to sleep and not to overload the axles. I know how to drive, been doing it 25 years in truck and 30 in car. Driven in all kinds of weather , terrain and on different continents. It is humiliating to have to subjugate oneself to a pretentious DOT fourwheeler driver who in comparison has one hundredth of the driving and life experience I have. Good luck catching me.
Mark says
Amen.
Old man says
Saw a UT where an O/O told a DOT officer that that officer would have to perform the inspection w/o his help and used the 5th Amendment as his reason. He won.. why give cops on a fishing expedition help in giving a ticket.
Johnny says
I think its part of their drive to just wreck all private truckers. And for them (mega carriers) to use when pushing idiot politicians to give them billions for Autonomous trucks. The MEGA Carriers seem to know of EVERY COPS ON DRIVERS HEAD event before anyone. They pay off the system to get Owner Operators reduced in number.
BUT, I now think of their undercover push for Autonomous trucks = A New Higher pay (read on) Opportunity if your smart!!
*Watch for the news stories of modern day pirates, you gotta love the opportunity, a full circle. The same steps that lead to pirates on the seas when the royals (now represented by the mega company class) crapped on the privateers ( represented by former owner operators) and the way to survive was stealing.
This is 100% on its way – Autonomous trucks getting ran off the road, diverted by criminal technology, electronic scramblers to control it remotely from the thieves, and robbed by unemployed bands of former truckers. What pays better? Driving it or robbing it. So to me in my guess, the latter is a great new opportunity for Americans to fight the globalist communist corporations and GRUBBERMENT!!!
Count me in. It’ll be like taking candy from a megabyte!
Certain Coming Black market items – $200,000+ Truck load of food-electronics-tools anyone?
Sextor LaBroy-Fellow says
that’s funny, but oh so true. you all heard that these glorified gps trackers they have mandated have a Built in Backdoor inside for remote control. Remote control is NOT when your foot has to move to the accelerator, Nay nay remote control is when those pesky terrorists use their computers to hack your whole operating system including brakes, steering and motor. So, pirating will soon be a professional choice. Just be sure to get in before it becomes popular, ok?
John Vitone says
How do I get in on this?
Douglas Kirk says
There are no words to describe the stupidity behind these things. Law enforcement, my butt. Glorified revenue collectors that extort money from working people under threat of prosecution is more like it.
Troglodyte says
Isn’t the company cut rate mileage driver the cause for all the focus on big trucks…….
Only desperate companies have reasons to hire scumbag losers and getting them/it a CDL! The motoring public has every reason to be afraid.
Tom says
This is nothing other than harassment because they are not focusing on anyone other than trucks. They are all pissed because of the protests. I’m guessing ATA is behind this.
Sextor LaBroy-Fellow says
your statement, “educate the public” doesn’t follow from a blitz. a blitz is an attack, like the German’s in WW2, not an educational ‘moment’.
Yeesh, the double talk is meant to what – persuade you and them or con us?
Caesar said, “methinks ye protest too much”, when he challenged the guy who eventually deep sixed him.
Here, I think we are playing smoke and mirrors again. If the cops would do their job every day, it wouldn’t come to this big display of valor, this pounding of chests so the world would know, these guys mean business. Oh balderdash, but these circuses get the press, and 15 minutes of fame. Oh joy, oh rapture, as the Scarecrow sang.