PUCO prepares for three-day semitruck enforcement effort

COLUMBUS – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) will participate in International Roadcheck, the largest targeted enforcement program for commercial motor vehicles in the world. Scheduled for May 12-14 throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, Roadcheck is a 72-hour intensive inspection program where transportation inspectors across North America will be stopping trucks and conducting inspections to ensure motor carriers are operating safely.

“Inspections are key for enforcing safety regulations that prevent catastrophic crashes, and the cornerstone of our year-round commitment to safety regulations,” PUCO Commissioner John Williams stated. “International Roadcheck provides a critical, high-visibility opportunity to remove immediate risks from our roads, reinforcing the safety standards that our teams uphold every single day to protect Ohio travelers.”

During International Roadcheck, inspectors will primarily conduct the North American Standard Level I Inspection, a 37-step procedure that includes an examination of driver operating requirements and vehicle mechanical fitness. This year, special emphasis will be placed on two focus areas: electronic logging device (ELD) tampering and cargo securement.

ELD tampering, falsification or manipulation can be used to conceal hours-of-service violations. While ELDs were designed to automate hours-of-service tracking, manipulation has emerged as a concern for road safety.

The cargo securement focus is critical because shifted or falling debris remains one of the most preventable causes of highway fatalities and road closures. Improper or inadequate cargo securement poses a serious risk to the driver and other motorists.

PUCO inspectors enforce important safety regulations by conducting safety inspections of commercial motor vehicles on roadways across Ohio. Each safety inspection follows a thorough process to make sure that the driver and CMV meet necessary state and federal safety requirements. Vehicles and drivers that fail to meet these requirements may be declared out-of-service and cannot continue operating until they comply.

During last year's Roadcheck, the PUCO along with the Ohio State Highway Patrol, conducted 1,245 inspections. There were 1,529 violations found, of which 345 were severe enough to place either the driver or vehicle out of service.

International Roadcheck is sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during International Roadcheck have numbered more than 1.5 million, with around 17 trucks and buses inspected, on average, every minute in Canada, the United States and Mexico during the 72-hour period. International Roadcheck also provides an opportunity to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial motor vehicle operations and the North American roadside inspection program. 

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) is the sole agency charged with regulating public utility service. The role of the PUCO is to assure all residential, business and industrial consumers have access to adequate, safe and reliable utility services at fair prices while facilitating an environment that provides competitive choices. Consumers with utility-related questions or concerns can call the PUCO Call Center at (800) 686-PUCO (7826) and speak with a representative.