LAVAL, Que. – Truckers who spend much time in Quebec are doubtlessly familiar with the frequent and large highway inspection campaigns carried out by the Societe de l’assurance automobile du Quebec (SAAQ). November was no exception, with two massive blitzes in eastern Quebec and just north of Montreal. The SAAQ also made an organized attempt to catch trucks trying to evade SAAQ weigh stations/control posts.

Between Nov. 12 and 17, a vast operation was carried out in several areas in eastern Quebec. A total of 1,160 trucks were singled-out for rapid checks of things such as axle weights, permits for dangerous goods, and compliance to dimensions. On Nov. 27, more than 30 SAAQ highway inspectors and Surete Quebec police officers conducted a road check on the A13 near Laval. A total of 188 trucks were checked and 42 of them were subjected to a full mechanical inspection.

On Nov. 28, the SAAQ announced that it would be conducting an operation designed to catch trucks trying to evade them.

That night, 23 highway inspection officers, three mechanical inspection officers and three Surete Quebec policemen conducted the operation. Surprisingly, only six trucks-not counting a few brazen souls who drove their rigs right by the weigh stations/control posts and into $600-dollar fines-were caught sneaking around where they were not supposed to be.

“They were checked for all the rules and regulations. All were found to have infractions,” says the SAAQ. They included invalid permits, overweight and logbook infractions. n