The recent voluntary two-day inspection of trucks  at Lantic Sugar Incorporated had some very positive results late last week.
Of the approximately 30 trucks done at the main plant in Taber, nearly all passed with flying colours.
“It went very well. There was only one truck that needed to be fixed on site and even that it was fifteen minutes and they were gone,” said Don Bobinec, sergeant with Alberta Transportation for commercial vehicle safety inspections. “There were a few others with minor violations like low tires, but those type of violations are not out-of-service.”
Last week’s inspections marks the fourth year Lantic has partnered with Alberta Transportation with the voluntary truck safety inspection program for farmers with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) program. It is an 18-item inspection involving such things as lights, brakes, tires and driver’s licenses as some of the many items inspected, and after successful inspection a decal is put on the truck showing compliance with the program in meeting the checklist.
“Farmers have really stepped up to the plate. They care about being safe on the road. It is voluntary and no fines are given out at that time. If it is something minor, the farmer usually takes his truck and goes and gets it addressed elsewhere,” said Bobinec. “But if we do find something major, it has to be fixed on site. Once you have that decal on there, if we see you, unless there are beets falling off everywhere, we usually just wave them through. It ends up saving farmers time and money in the end.”
The inspections also go on at all six beet dump sites in southern Alberta ranging from Vauxhall, to Picture Butte to Burdett.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance program also makes its way out to Vauxhall and Enchant as well. Bobinec estimates just over half the trucks found in Vauxhall and Enchant went through the voluntary inspection program this year with the approximately 160 trucks in the area.
“With the word of mouth, the message is getting out there. Everyone is working together. Farmers in the industry understand and want to be safe on the roads,” said Bobinec.
“It’s better to do it now (the voluntary safety inspection) then find out later when we are the bad guys and give you a fine and you’ll have to get it fixed anyway.”