DELTA, B.C. — A commercial vehicle inspection blitz in Delta resulted in 188 trucks being placed out of service.

That represented 42% of all vehicles inspected, but it was a targeted blitz focusing on trucks that appeared to be in a state of disrepair. This was the fourth year Delta police teamed with a number of other enforcment agencies to conduct the commercial vehicle inspection blitz. More than 100 officers participated.

Delta police say the blitz is one of the largest targeted truck inspection initiatives in the province.

“With the large amount of heavy trucks transiting the highways through Delta to the BC Ferry Terminal in Tsawwassen or the container and coal terminals at Deltaport in Ladner and with the anticipated increase in traffic from the Fraser Perimeter Road, Delta is the axis for 18-wheelers,” Delta police said in a release. “Recognizing that mechanical failure is more of an issue with older vehicles rather than newer ones, the focus of the Inspectors was on container trucks, dump trucks and commercial trades vehicles that appeared to have a burden of mileage upon them.”

In total, 448 trucks were inspected. Of the 204 container and dumps inspected, 38% were placed out of service. A total of 120 vocational trucks were inspected with 49% placed out of service. And 124 highway trucks were inspected with 41% placed out of service.

“These numbers do not reflect the status of the commercial transport industry. Our percentages of Out of Service Orders and citations issued will be higher due to our targeting strategies,” Delta police stressed. “But they do imply that there are a significant number of trucks on the road that due to either owner/operator ignorance or indifference, are non-compliant and represent a safety concern for the driver, other motorists and pedestrians.”