Trucking news and briefs for Friday, Dec. 16, 2022:
On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) began conducting enhanced commercial vehicle safety inspections at random as they cross international ports of entry into Texas.
This is the second round of such inspections. In April, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered state police to perform similar inspections. They only lasted for about two weeks and caused lengthy backups at the borders.
“We are committed to enforcing compliance with safety standards, and one of our department’s primary functions is to ensure Texas roadways are safe for all Texans and visitors to our great state,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “Cartels do not care about the condition of the vehicles they send into Texas any more than they do about the human lives they cram into tractor-trailers or those lost to a fentanyl overdose.”
McCraw added that DPS will not discuss operational specifics for security reasons, “but we hope that frequent enhanced commercial vehicle safety inspections will help deter cartel smuggling activity along our southern border while increasing the safety of our roadways.”
