NEW ORLEANS — A Vancouver truck inspector has been named the top vehicle enforcement cop in North America.

Richard Roberts, a CVSA-certified North American Standard Level I inspector from B.C., took top honors at the 2006 North American Inspectors Championship (NAIC) held in New Orleans last week.

Roberts won the Grand Champion Award for his combined performances in six competition elements across North American Standard Level I Inspection and North American Standard HAZMAT/Transportation of Dangerous Goods Inspection.

Fifty-three CVSA-certified roadside inspectors competed in the 14th annual championship. Roberts was one of six inspectors representing Canada. The others came from Alberta, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan.

Alain Riendeau of Quebec tied with Lorie Floyd of Wisconsin for the prestigious John Youngblood Award. The award — named after a staff member who was killed in the ’95 Oklahoma City bombings — is presented each year to the inspector who best demonstrates the qualities of congeniality, leadership, integrity, professionalism and commitment.

Riendeau was also part of a new Team Award, which recognizes the team that best demonstrates camaraderie and accumulates the highest point average. He shared it with half a dozen other inspectors from the U.S.

“I congratulate all the participants and I thank their respective agencies for allowing them to compete,” said FMCSA Administrator John Hill. “The thousands of men and women throughout North America enforcing commercial vehicle safety laws are making the roads safer for everyone and saving lives.”