COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT UNIT (10/29-11/4)

NORTHWEST SECTOR

Details:

11/1 Williston, I-89 SB, 5 inspectors, 1 New Entrant Safety Auditor, 2 Shelburne PD Officers and

3 FMCSA Investigators screened 335 vehicles. They completed 25 inspections resulting in 32

vehicle and 25 driver violations. Three drivers and three vehicles were placed out of service. Four

of the inspections were supervised inspections. Inspectors focused on vehicles driving past the

open weigh station.

Crashes:

10/31 Inspector responded to US Rte 7 in Charlotte for a tractor trailer crash. The tractor trailer

was northbound on US Rte 7 when the vehicle gradually drifted off the right side of the road,

colliding with, and breaking, two power poles. One pole fell on the vehicle and the transformer

fell through the roof of the trailer. The driver advised he didn’t remember the accident and may

have blacked out or fallen asleep. The driver was ticketed. The carrier was under suspension in

VT. No pre-existing vehicle defects were noted. The truck and trailer both had to be towed due to

disabling damage. This accident shut down US Rte 7 during the morning commute and resulted

in many hours of work for power companies to repair the damage.

Notables:

10/30 NW Inspectors assisted with several road

closures after a wind storm brought down tress/utility wires

& poles Statewide.

10/30 Inspector responded to Plains Rd in Jericho

for a stuck tractor trailer. The driver had made a delivery

on a local road in Essex. The company didn’t have a permit

to be on that road. The driver then tried to find I89 using

his GPS. He went into Jericho, on to local roads he wasn’t

permitted for. He drove around “Road Closed” signs to go

onto a dirt road (Plains Rd), until he came upon the downed

trees/lines that had closed the road. Traffic had to be stopped to back the vehicle out. An

inspection was conducted and the driver was ticketed.

10/31 Inspector stopped a CMV for no operative tail lamps on I-289 in Essex. It was discovered

that the operator did not have a CDL as required and the vehicle was under registered for its

weight. A level 1 inspection was completed. The driver and vehicle were placed out of service.

Tickets were issued and the vehicle was force registered.

10/31 Inspector patrolled I89 where he stopped three motorists for speed infractions. One

operator was civilly suspended and the driver was misusing plates, had no insurance, and was

displaying an altered inspection sticker. Multiple tickets were issued and the vehicle was towed.

10/31 Inspector located a Williston VSP BOL for tractor trailer unit reported to be dropping stone

on the Interstate. Driver interview revealed the unit was empty and had unloaded grain. Likely

stone kicked up from road and no further action was needed.

11/1 Inspector stopped a home delivery box truck for driving by the detail. During the stop she

noted the odor of intoxicants coming from the driver. He was screened for impairment and blew

.06% BAC. The driver was ticketed and placed out of service. The company was able to send a

new driver to remove the truck and driver.

11/1 Inspector stopped a rental box truck for driving by the detail. It was an interstate household

goods mover. The driver advised when he got hired he was told to obtain a log book, but he never

did. He had worked for the company for approx. 10 days and maintained no hours of service. The

driver was ticketed and placed out of service.

11/1 Inspector stopped two tree service trucks towing equipment trailers at the detail that were

well out of state inspection. Multiple tickets were issued and one trailer hauling a man lift was

grounded due to misuse of plates and defective equipment.

11/2 Inspector patrolled Addison County. He completed one level 3 and three level 2 inspections

resulting in 3 driver and 6 vehicle violations. He also completed 1 portable weigh on a log truck

that was found to be overweight.

11/3 Middlebury PD stopped a tractor trailer for tire chains that were swinging and had become

entangled. Inspector responded and conducted an inspection. The company was found to be under

suspension in VT. The carrier was ticketed.

11/3 Inspector stopped an oversize load for a permit check on I89 in Williston. The trailer was

placed out of service for 3 tires on the trailer in contact with a part of the trailer while moving.

Passenger Carrier:

Nothing to report.

NORTHEAST SECTOR

Details:

11/02 I93 Waterford Welcome Center. Four Inspectors screened 87 CMVs. Three Level 1, eight

Level 2, and one Level 3 inspections were completed. Three driver (one out of service) and twenty-

nine vehicle (one out of service) violations were discovered.

Crashes:

11/1 Inspector responded to Cutler Corners Road in Barre to assist Barre City PD at a reportable

single CMV crash. The operator of the empty four axle dump truck looked down momentarily

and crossed the center line. In turning right to get back into his lane of travel, the operator turned

too sharply and went off the right side of the road, crashing into several trees. A Level 1 inspection

was completed with no pre-existing violations discovered which would have contributed to the

crash. The cause of the crash was attributed to driver error.

Notables:

11/2 Inspector

conducted an inspection

on a CMV transporting a

large piece of equipment.

The equipment was 8’10

inches wide and not

properly secured. The

CMV was not properly

signed and flagged for

the over dimension load.

There was no permit in

place for the CMV to

transport the over

dimension load. The

CMV was grounded

until a permit was

obtained and a ticket

was issued to the

company.

Passenger Vehicles:

No activity reported.

New Entrant:

Seventeen carriers

contacted regarding

document submission/

scheduling/inactivation.

Three offsite audits

completed. New

Entrant administration- attended webinars. 26.5 hours.

CENTRAL SECTOR

Details:

11/2 Bridgewater, US Rte 4, Inspectors screened 50 commercial motor vehicles before closing the

detail due to a CMV crash in Rutland City. Three level 1, and nine level 2 inspections were

conducted which revealed 12 vehicle violations (three vehicle out of service), and two driver

violation was also discovered.

Crashes:

10/30 Inspector responded to a single CMV hazardous materials crash in Castleton. Driver stated

he swerved to avoid a deer and soft shoulder gave away.

Vehicle rolled in a field, no other damage or vehicles. On

follow up with an inspection on Wednesday the vehicle was

in good condition aside from the crash damage. The driver

was not injured.

11/2 Inspectors and an Agent from the FMCSA

responded to the intersection of Woodstock Ave. and

Gleason Road in Rutland City to a report of a 2 car motor

vehicle crash involving at tractor trailer with injuries.

Already on scene was the Rutland Town Fire Department,

State Police, and the Rutland City Police Department.

Further investigation revealed (Vehicle # 1), a sedan

bearing Florida Registration was attempting to merge with

traffic when it struck a Vermont Registered Jeep, (Vehicle

# 2), pulling a trailer traveling east. As a result of the

crash, (Vehicle # 1) spun out and collided with a Vermont Registered tractor trailer (Vehicle # 3).

The Operator from (Vehicle # 1) was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center for minor

injuries. The tractor trailer had minor damage to the driver’s side front fender. The tractor

trailer was driven to the Home Depot parking lot where a level 1 inspection was conducted.

Notables:

10/31 Inspector was patrolling the intersection of US

Rte 4 and VT Rte 100 and observed a Caterpillar 930K

operating on US Rte 4 driving over the Sherburne pass

without registration. The vehicle was escorted back to the job

site and the company was issued a ticket for no registration.

10/31 Inspector stopped a 2015 pickup truck with a

GVWR of 11,099 for an expired inspection sticker on US Rte

4 in Killington. Further investigation revealed the slate

roofing company was traveling from Hanover New

Hampshire to Fair Haven Vermont. During the traffic stop the Inspector smelled the odor of

intoxicants and raw marijuana emanating from the truck. The driver admitted that marijuana

shake and pipes were his. In addition, the Inspector discovered 2 open bud light tall boys and a

half full Twisted Tea within the truck. The driver was screened for impairment and provided an

evidentiary breath sample with a result of a BAC of .000. A level 2 Inspection revealed multiple

violations resulting the vehicle and the driver to be placed out of service. Tickets were issued to

the company.

11/2 Inspectors

stopped a dump truck

pulling a trailer for

not signaling when

turning onto US Rte 4

from the Killington

Access Road. A level

one inspection

revealed multiple

cracked brake linings

on the front steer axle and a softball size stone and debris left of the trailer bed. The truck and

trailer was escorted to the Mendon AOT garage where it was put out of service for the

aforementioned violations.

11/3 Inspector was patrolling US Rte 7 in the Danby East Dorset area when he stopped a 4 axle

dump truck hauling gravel for a moving violation. A portable weigh revealed the truck to be

15,700 lbs. over the allowable weight. The dump truck was escorted back to the gravel pit where

the load was off loaded. A ticket was issued to the company for the overweight violation.

11/3 Inspector stopped a 4 axle dump truck on Danby. A portable weigh revealed the truck was

11,500 lbs. over the allowable weight. A ticket was issued to the company.

Passenger Vehicles:

No activity reported

SOUTH SECTOR

Details:

11/01 Putney, I-91 NB, 3 inspectors screened 98 vehicles. They completed 14 inspections resulting

in 10 vehicle and 4 driver violations. Two vehicles were placed OOS.

Crashes:

10/30 Inspector responded to a crash in Castleton for a reported fuel tanker rollover. The driver

was transported with minor injuries and no other vehicles were involved. The scene was secured

and the tanker had to be offloaded prior to removal. It appears driver inattention may have been

the cause. Inspector did the initial response and another Inspector followed up later at the

carrier’s place of business.

10/31 Inspector responded to VT Rte 9 in Woodford for car vs

tractor trailer crash. The pleasure car crossed the center line striking

the trailer. The driver of the pleasure and her child were transported

to the hospital. Both vehicles were towed from the scene due to

disabling damage. No preexisting violations were discovered on the

CMV. The driver was cited by VSP at the hospital for C&N and Child

Endangerment.

Notables:

Nothing to report.

Passenger Vehicles:

No activity reported.

New Entrant:

Two safety audits were completed.

CAPTAIN’S CORNER

Directed traffic enforcement

DATES 10/29-11/4

CORRIDORS VT Rt 22A, VT Rt 105, I-91, VT Rt 9, US Rt 4, VT Rt 100

HOURS 24

STOPS 45

TICKETS 23 (19 speed, 2 vehicle not inspected, 1 commercial vehicle equipment, 1

marijuana possession)

WARNINGS 23 (23 speed)

ARRESTS/OTHER CMV driver OOS for drugs and alcohol