70 per cent of trucks pulled over in Oakville safety blitz fail inspection

The early results are in on the Canada Road Safety Week blitz in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills and they’re not looking so good.

A majority of trucks pulled over Wednesday (May 17) in Oakville by Halton Regional Police Service’s Commercial Motor Vehicle inspection team revealed major issues.

“An unfortunate 70 per cent failure/out of service rate amongst trucks inspected,” said HRPS Oakville on Twitter, who had help from colleagues HRPS CMV, HRPS Milton/Halton Hills and HRPS Burlington.

“The roads are now safer with these defects removed.”

With help from our colleagues at @HRPSCMV @HRPSMiltHH @HRPSBurl we held a #CRSW #RoadCheck CMV safety inspection in Oakville today. An unfortunate 70% failure/Out of service rate amongst trucks inspected; the roads are now safer with these defects removed. #RoadSafety ^MRT pic.twitter.com/DEBiCxvsoJ

— HRPS Oakville (@HRPSOak) May 18, 2023

Just on Wednesday, police say four vehicles required tow trucks to remove them.

The defects and issues with the vehicles varied widely. Some of the problems included load securement, improper braking systems, improper tires, dangerous goods violations, exposed/contaminated wheel bearings, suspended drivers and using plates not registered to vehicles.

HRPS Cst. and CVSA inspector Marc Taraso had to lay charges and remove the plates from a commercial truck he was asked to inspect earlier this week.

“Floor (was) completely rusted out and corresponding exhaust leaks under this driver’s compartment,” Taraso said. “Also (the) parking brake (was) inoperative.”

On another pair of dump trucks that were brought in by patrol officers for inspection, Cst. Taraso found both had an insecure aggregate on the side rails and both were overloaded and overweight on their registered gross weight (allowable weight based on fees paid for the truck licence plates) and tires.

Halton police’s CMV Unit held a Road Safety Blitz on Tuesday (May 16) to open the new inspection lanes on Steeles Ave. in Halton Hills and is one of many initiatives The seven-day national campaign is aimed at making Canada’s roads the safest in the world.

This annual awareness campaign is designed to increase public compliance with safe driving measures to save lives and reduce injuries on Canada’s roads.

Inspected this truck for @HRPSMiltHH Officer. Floor completely rusted out and corresponding exhaust leaks under this drivers compartment. Also parking brake inoperative. #OOS. Plates removed. Charges laid. #CanadaRoadSafetyWeek #RoadCheck #CRSW pic.twitter.com/cjbpXGjPqC

— Cst. Marc Taraso (@CstTaraso9345) May 16, 2023