VICTORIA, B.C. – The province of B.C. has launched a campaign that will target unsafe dump truck operators.

“Unsafe dump trucks pose a significant threat to the safety of our streets and communities,” said B.C.’s Solicitor General, Rich Coleman.

“We are out there to let owners and operators know that if they don’t play by the rules we’ll get their trucks off the road.”

Ministry of Transportation inspectors will work alongside police to conduct inspections at roadside sites across the Lower Mainland over the course of the next eight months.

The inspectors will be looking at all aspects of dump truck safety, including brake connections and adjustments, steering wheels and rims, lights, emergency equipment and load security.

Trucks failing the inspection will immediately be placed out of service until the safety issues are addressed.

The campaign has been launched in response to a rash of serious dump truck crashes in the Lower Mainland.

Police say they have found safety-related problems with dump trucks in the past, placing up to 40 per cent of them out of service during some inspections.

This while the safety record for commercial vehicles in other segments has been steadily improving in recent years. n