12/20/07 Truck safety; the rules of the road

Washington Ag December 20, 2007 Law enforcement officials aren't typical attendees at grain grower conventions but they were present at the recent Pacific Northwest Grains Conference in Spokane. The reason; to help farmers understand the rules and laws on trucking and to promote their safe operation on the road. Trooper Kevin Clark of the Commercial Vehicle Division of the Washington State Patrol was one of the officials who gave a presentation. Clark: "Well the big concern this year was with new legislation here in the state of Washington is with having to get a DOT number, a Department of Transportation number. So we've covered a little bit of that and it is a fairly straight forward and simple process for them. It is a one page application and it is over and done with. The other things they have to look at is having safe and legal loads and safe equipment when they are out on the public highways." Clark says that would include good tires, brakes, suspension systems, mirrors, working lights and whatever is needed to get up and down the road without causing injury to the operator or others. Clark believes the WSP is pretty accommodating to all segments of the trucking industry. Clark: "We need to get the message across so that they are operating safely and legally on the highways. And if we can do that with a warning we are more than happy to give them a warning to get them into compliance." Tomorrow, Trooper Clark talks about a voluntary inspection program. I'm Bob Hoff.