The first of Louisiana's recently authorized voluntary truck inspections was conducted by a team from the Louisiana State Police in Hodge, Louisiana outside the Smurfit-Stone papermill on Thursday, December 11 in the cold bluster of one of the state's few true winter days. The officers examined 44 trucks.

Mike Entz, general manager at the plant made the lot available to the State Police. Trucks were invited to stop and have a complimentary safety inspection of their vehicles. All violations were waived. There were no penalties levied, but warnings were issued on any violations that could not be repaired on scene. However, 14 trucks or trailers were placed out of service until repairs could be made. The 35 trucks that passed inspection were given CVSA stickers that would carry them through the next 90 days.

"We had teams ready to make inspections," said Lt. Ronald Lewis, Region Three Motor Carrier Supervisor.

Three teams of troopers were arranged along lanes that had been set up. Trucks pulled through these designated areas for their inspections. As a truck rolled in, one trooper started out by looking at paper work while another examined lug bolts on the huge tires. In a few minutes the engine was exposed and the officers delved even deeper into the heart of the vehicle.

"Earlier this year, the Louisiana Legislature mandated that we perform these courtesy inspections," explained Lewis as another truck came in. Flyers were handed out to each trucker coming through the paper mill gates for days prior to the setting up of the inspection station.

Marshall O. Adams of Marshall Adams Trucking in Olla brought his spotlessly clean 18-wheeler through for his turn to check safety issues.

"It's a good thing," Adams said. "It certainly doesn't hurt to get everything checked out."

Mike Ogden, driver for Travis Taylor Logging brought his rig in.

"My boss told me it was a good idea to bring the truck through," Ogden said. In a few minutes, the officers were checking out the truck from top to bottom.

As those rigs were examined, one of the Michael Franks Logging trucks stopped.

"This is a good idea," said Allen Adams, driver for Franks.

Another inspection is planned for late February in the Alexandria area.

State Representative Jim Fannin of Jonesboro, Louisiana said he was pleased to see the voluntary inspections begin.

"This first one was a great success," Fannin said. "This will benefit the loggers. We need to continue to do anything we can to help loggers. This will prevent downtime where loggers are stopped on the roadside for inspections."

Fannin stated that other inspections were already scheduled around the state.

"We're hoping for feedback from the loggers about the quality of the inspections," Fannin said.

Lt. Lewis stated that the inspections went well and that they were pleased with the turnout.

Back