Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Alex Cabrero Reporting"They could be brakes, they could be tires they could be frame cracks or brakes out of adjustment."
Highways and roads all across Utah are a lot safer today, thanks to random truck inspections. Highway patrol officers and UDOT teamed up for Roadcheck 2006. It's a program designed to make sure big rigs on the road are safely on the roads.
Trucks were pulled into the Port of Entry in Wendover all day so UHP troopers could inspect them, and some were in such bad shape, they had to be taken off the roads. This location allows troopers to look at trucks coming in from Nevada. The same type of inspections also took place in St. George, on the Wyoming side of the state, and with trucks coming in from Idaho.
When it comes to big 18-wheelers, Greg Lundell just happens to know a thing or two, like motors, brakes, you name it. It makes him the perfect person for this job.
Sgt. Greg Lundell, Utah: "This is all about safety."
Lundell is a sergeant with UHP and today he and a crew were busy, making sure big trucks were operating safely.
Sgt. Greg Lundell, Utah: "There can be just a simple operation, such as a light being out, or something serious and they need to fix that before they leave this area."
A truck that passes gets a yellow sticker, but not all trucks do. If a truck has too many violations, it gets an orange, out of service area, and can't go any further.
Sgt. Greg Lundell: "Last year we inspected about 750 trucks, out of those, 150 were placed out of service."
Thirty-seven different items are checked. That's 37 different reasons for Dameon Novosel to sweat.
Dameon Novosel, Ogden Truck Driver: "It makes me nervous getting checked. You never know if something's wrong, but I think it's a good idea."
While he likes it, another trucker says the stop is costing him precious time, and in this business, time is money.
Ricky Fugegt, Florida Truck Driver: "I guess in a way it's good, but in another way I'm trying to make a living. I don't wanna be giving these guys my money, you know."
Still, troopers aren't concerned with how much time it takes to inspect a truck. They just want to make sure they won't break down or worse later.
Sgt. Lundell: "We're hoping we're saving lives and preventing someone from getting hurt."
Last year, roughly 20% of the inspected trucks were taken off the roads. It may sound high, but UHP says it's about normal.
These checkpoints will continue tonight, tomorrow and on Thursday.
