| More than 26,000 trucks weighed during special enforcement event |
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| ODOT News |
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May 18, 2009
For more information, contact Sally Ridenour (503) 986-3359
Have you ever wondered why commercial trucks have to stop at weigh stations along Oregon’s highways?
In Oregon, commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds pay a weight-mile tax instead of the fuel tax that passenger vehicles pay. The weight-mile tax is a large part of the funding that Oregon uses to preserve and maintain public roads and bridges. In 2008, ODOT collected more than $240 million in weight-mile tax. Weigh stations throughout the state ensure compliance with size and weight laws.
For three days last week, the Oregon Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Division conducted an intensive size and weight enforcement effort along the Interstate 84 corridor. Truckers traveling through Oregon saw ODOT motor carrier enforcement officers out in force. Weigh stations along I-84, U.S. 730. U.S 26 and U.S. 20 were open continuously for 57 hours May 13-15. (See photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/oregondot/3542971437/ or video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTDK-jaXqeE )
More than 26,000 commercial trucks were weighed during the event. 16,914 or about 1 truck every 12 seconds were weighed by ODOT staff at static scales, and 9,428 trucks were weighed in-motion at highway speed by the Green Light weigh station pre-clearance system. About 1.8 percent of the trucks received enforcement warnings or citations.
“Although our staff performs this type of work every day, intensive operations like this help reinforce the message that weight and safety compliance are our top priority,” said Ed Scrivner, ODOT Motor Carrier Field Services manager. “This event also complements ODOT’s on-going initiatives to preserve our highways and bridges.”
In 2008, motor carrier enforcement officers weighed 2,072,855 trucks on static scales. They also processed 1,481,278 trucks that were weighed in-motion at highway speed by the Green Light weigh station pre-clearance system.
“Although the majority of trucking companies operating on Oregon’s highways abide by Oregon law and have compliance-conscious drivers, an intensive enforcement event like this can help identify those who are not,” said Scrivner.
ODOT Motor Carrier enforcement officers will also use the event as an opportunity to educate truck drivers about common compliance mistakes such as unevenly distributed loads or expired permits.
For more information about ODOT Motor Carrier’s enforcement and safety efforts visit http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/MCT
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