Highway Patrol Dept. Conducting Commercial Motor Vehicle Inspections

The Montana and North Dakota Highway Patrol Departments are conducting a commercial motor vehicle safety inspection saturation effort this week.

The saturation effort began Monday in northeastern Montana by the Montana Highway Patrol with a similar saturation being held in northwestern North Dakota.

Commercial vehicle operation related to oil production has increased in eastern Montana and western North Dakota during recent years. According to Shane Mintz, Montana Department of Transportation (MDOT) district administrator, District 4, Glendive, the MDOT along with Highway Patrol Departments normally have scheduled safety inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers in the spring and fall of the year.

The Highway Patrol Department says it has tried to address the changing transportation environment in the area through education, enforcement and partnerships with community and industry representatives. The enforcement stops will include safety inspections on commercial motor vehicles and drivers in an effort to ensure they are adhering to federal motor carrier safety standards and regulations, along with size and weight laws.

The MDOT and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) conducted enhanced enforcement stops in northeastern Montana the last part of September. Truck traffic through these areas has increased significantly since the previous enhanced enforcement this past spring.

“MDOT along with FMCSA normally conduct enhanced enforcements around the state.” said Mintz. “They are very aware of the increased truck traffic with the oil activity in the eastern part of the state and see the importance of these enhanced enforcements.”

With eastern Montana having weigh stations only in Wibaux, Broadus and Culbertson and limited resources in the area, the FMCSA conducts these inspection efforts with motor carrier safety officers brought in from all over the state.

Anyone living in eastern Montana or western North Dakota is also very aware of the increased truck traffic and can be reassured by the flashing blue lights and trucks on the side of the road.