New police team targets dangerous trucks

jrcampeau said on December 15, 2011 at 7:51 PM

I am a successful Owner Operator and when I hear other O/O complaining about they cant fix there trucks it disgusts me! No one is forcing them to haul cheap freight, the problem is that we have all these companies allowing these unsafe trucks on the roads for starters. Those ragged container hauler trucks are making less then a company driver and have no clue as to what it takes to operate a truck or run a business. For all the non truckers out there please don't let the container haulers be your first and last impression of the trucking industry. The majority of us true independents do believe in safety first, we maintain our equipment to the highest standards and are never in a hurry. The container haulers do have the power to say No to Cheap Freight! They act like its everyone else's fault there trucks are falling apart and want us to sympathize. Haul freight that pays, slow down and fix a problem before you roll! Federal law mandates all of us to Pre trip our equipment. DO IT!!!

roblh31 said on December 15, 2011 at 12:05 PM

I have a conspiracy theory. They are targeting unsafe trucks to save the lives of valuable future tax payers. For every person that is killed in a accident, that is thousands and thousands less in taxes that will be collected from that individual through their lifetime. Government wants tax money? It could be considered brilliant to save its tax base from traffic accidents.

oldlewy said on December 15, 2011 at 10:33 AM

Wow the Seattle Police is helping the 99 percent and part of the occupy wall street. It's about time

bazwest said on December 15, 2011 at 9:27 AM

"I can't afford to fix my truck", really means that I care about other things more than safety. The drivers need to be safe on the road and not endanger the public. If they can't police themselves, then they need to be policed.

bobo275078015763 said on December 15, 2011 at 8:56 AM

it's about time. the way some of these idiots drive their trucks is a very frightening. i've been tailgated by them in right hand lane. in my opinion, they are threatening me with a deadly weapon

vffrwm said on December 15, 2011 at 6:53 AM

SLOW THEM DOWN. Thats a good place to start. Letting these guys drive at the same limit as cares is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard of. They can't stop like a care, they can't handle like a car so slow them down. Period

iowaboy said on December 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM

After seeing pictures on TV about brake parts falling off these trucks, I now know what it was that came skidding down the road at me on HWY 3 between Auto Row in Bremerton and Gorst.

think said on December 14, 2011 at 8:22 PM

How about the State Patrol enforcing the righ-hand two lane restiction on these beasts, and the a-holes that drive them in the left-hand lanes, including the 'fast' lane. They must stay in the two right-hand lanes on any highway of three or more lanes. Take a look at any stretch of I-5 that's three or more lanes and you'll find them in every lane. Give 'em a big, fat ticket and put the dough in the State's coffer for education, or the State Trooper's salary.

jonjuan said on December 14, 2011 at 6:55 PM

This is a whole lot more about revenue than safety.

intrepid1 said on December 14, 2011 at 6:25 PM

Seems like the authorities should look into the business practices of the shipping companies who rely on under-compensated, independent drivers to haul loads. If the these business practices were better regulated to ensure that drivers can afford the upkeep on the vehicles and make a decent living.

uwlvdawg said on December 14, 2011 at 6:12 PM

Container drivers are by far the most unsafe, aggressive drivers out there on the road. They are paid by the load and not by the mile, or Hour. Which is wrong. DOT should be targeting them first. Being a truck driver myself, I see them blasting by me at speeds faster than 70 miles per hour. DOT has failed in many ways on this.

Tewodros said on December 14, 2011 at 5:15 PM

If the accident happened on the highway, why not pulling the truck drivers on the freeway. What I see is a harassment from . on local drives who barley makes money. I think they need to back off from this poor people.

ljjones5912 said on November 17, 2011 at 9:12 PM

the ethics report said he earn $10,000 in two years thats $400 a month how does king 5 get $450 a day. He was being paid to do inspections they reprted him because he would not allow them to run illegal. What condition are pacer cartage trucks in now? They had 2 officers and over 5,000 truck a day on the water front how were they suppose to do a good job making sure they all complied that seems impossible to me. I agree he was wrong but corrupt I don't think so. King 5 is implying alot. these incidents happen on State highways, the State Patrol has more officers why did they not catch these violations, why did they not stop more trucks going in and out of Seattle if they thought there was a problem. Why did they not use their authority and perform audits on these Companies where they could go to the Companies facilities and inspect these trucks if they thought there was such a bad problem. The State Patrol has to share in the blame.

vffrwm said on November 16, 2011 at 6:49 AM

Not only do they not keep safe trucks off the road but they won't let the WSP assist them in doing the job. Seems to me that it reeks of a payoff or kick back. I would tell you who the owners of these trucks are but then that wouldn't be polltically correct.

backinmyday said on November 15, 2011 at 9:53 PM

That Smith guy is lucky that he is not in prison for Extortion.

conseula said on November 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

@sedgdzddoom...Are you aware that many of these trucks are privately owned and contract out to whomever? I believe it is the responsibility, if the truck is privately owned, it is their responsibility to keep their trucks in safe. I am concerned about the fact that many of these large trucking companies are hiriing illegals who speak little English and are assisted in passing their truck driving test (on paper).. If you watch a program called Highway Patrol, not sure of the name..You will see officers pulling people off the road for speeding, driving recklessly..To find, many of them are illegals who barely speak English..I've always wondered how they read the road signs?

segzdbdoom said on November 15, 2011 at 3:01 PM

So what happens to the already underpaid drivers of these trucks, that get pulled off the roads, because the trucking companies don't keep the trucks safe. Are they now out of jobs?! How is that helping our unemployment rate and more importantly the families that these drivers support. Don Smith is definitely on the take as he kept Britsch on staff!! Who is over Don Smith, why is he not involved? And why doesn't the Port Commissioner have more control over what comes on and off the port. Shouldn't they also enforce and contribute to safe trucks. Aaarrgggg so frustrating....Somebody do something about this!

rainierrider said on November 15, 2011 at 1:07 PM

So is Don Smith with City of Seattle's Commercial Vehicle Enforcement still in business? Did King5 Investigators determine he was on "the take" as well? The article doesn't say much as to what changed with Mr. Smith imposing himself in front of WSP. Is the City of Seattle "dirty" for allowing these trucks to roll throughout the Puget Sound throwing parts? Does SDOT have control over these 4 trained SPD officers? Ugh..... Phone:206-684-5125 E-mail:don.smith@seattle.gov

conseula said on November 15, 2011 at 12:16 PM

@underserf...what MEXICAN 18 WHEELERS? I saw a show on Dateline a number of years ago about drivers that somehow were able to get their license to drive a truck. During the investigation it was found that the potential employees were assisted in cheating in order to pass the tests. Police found many of the trucks they pulled over for safety violations or not obeying the laws of the road, found that the drivers could barely speak or understand ENGLISH! and in the country illegally/no green card!

Akogot said on November 15, 2011 at 12:01 PM

So to solve the truck problem make them have REAL tires, NOT retread!

underserf said on November 15, 2011 at 10:44 AM

With Mexican 18 wheelers traveling north & the demands of the TP to deregulate EVERYTHING, we'll soon see infinitely more mayhem on the roads & freeways - it is ALL about profit, after all...

useyourhead99 said on November 15, 2011 at 9:36 AM

bazwest, there needs to be bigger penalties when caught obviously the risk is worth it...in 20 years the guy was warned twice, why was he not fired and throw in jail then? Over the years God only knows how many of those trucks that were given a free pass were trucks were in accidents that hurt someone.

vffrwm said on November 15, 2011 at 6:24 AM

Sounds like Smith is in bed with the container trucking companies. By the way the ones rolling out of Port of Tacoma are just as bad. It's really everywhere. Ask the WSP that man the scales and they make stops there.

stonetrails said on November 15, 2011 at 6:13 AM

And who out there doesn't understand government is all about the money, it's a business. It's not about safety or citizens.

G8tr376 said on November 15, 2011 at 1:14 AM

Might be time to refocus manpower from busting potheads to protecting and serving. 2 inspectors could be 200 with the stroke of a pen and believe me IT IS that easy! oh yea there will be less officers on the beat down tactical units being used to nab small time dope growers but then... just sayin.

bazwest said on November 15, 2011 at 12:18 AM

Why are individuals so easily corrupted? There has to be a separation of duties and remuneration between a regulator and those whom they regulate.