WEBDangerous..........

[Orangetxguy]

according to this article.

One-fifth of inspected commercial vehicles in Texas deemed unsafe - Houston Chronicle

[Malaki86]

Does the article mention that 3/4ths of Texas POV drivers should be deemed unsafe as well? The drive between Dallas and San Antonio is quite fun, especially when you do it at 3am on a Saturday morning. Wow.

[Windwalker]

The most common problem with the equipment is brakes, tires, and lights.... They're not looking at mud flaps any more? That was my last equipment problem in TX.

[DaveP]

I was written up for smoke that didn't dissipate within 10 seconds....

Hunh?

[Windwalker]

I was written up for smoke that didn't dissipate within 10 seconds....

Hunh?

So.... What do you do after you blow a turbo, have it replaced, and start putting out smoke because of the oil in the intercooler?????

[DaveP]

So.... What do you do after you blow a turbo, have it replaced, and start putting out smoke because of the oil in the intercooler?????

Danged if I know...I think the guy just made it up! It was a roadside inspection just above Laredo. I turned it over to the company and let them deal with it. Just checked my CSA score and didn't see any reference to it there...

[LBF]

age old problem, what's included in "commercial vehicle"? A guy in a rusted out 1 ton pick-up collecting scrap out of vacant yards gets counted. In some jurisdictions, the rich kid nailed for DUI in daddy's daily driver 3/4 ton diesel extended cab pick-up gets counted.

And the stats are still below the national average quoted in the same article.

Just another routine shot at a handy target.

[GMAN]

I noticed that the statistics stated that trucks were involved, not necessarily at fault. I also rarely hear of any driver keeping more than one log book these days. There was not a breakdown between buses and trucks, either. So, we don't really have a complete and accurate picture of the statistics. It seems to me that the writer spend more emphasis on log books and drivers being put out of service for hos violations than for mechanical problems, although both were mentioned. It is apparent that the writer has a problem with truckers. I would like to see statistics concerning 4 wheelers using the same criteria as they use with 18 wheelers.

[Windwalker]

I noticed that the statistics stated that trucks were involved, not necessarily at fault. I also rarely hear of any driver keeping more than one log book these days. There was not a breakdown between buses and trucks, either. So, we don't really have a complete and accurate picture of the statistics. It seems to me that the writer spend more emphasis on log books and drivers being put out of service for hos violations than for mechanical problems, although both were mentioned. It is apparent that the writer has a problem with truckers. I would like to see statistics concerning 4 wheelers using the same criteria as they use with 18 wheelers.

I would wish to see that too. But, there aren't many places that inspect 4-wheelers, and those that to seldom report any statistics about those that failed.

[GMAN]

Good point, Stan. One thing that I thought about is that their figures are only for those trucks that were inspected. That doesn't necessarily mean that the percentage would be the same with all trucks. They could be targeting trucks that are more likely to be out of compliance rather than random stops. That could skew the figures to support their point of view where it appears that the number of trucks that are out of compliance is far greater than reality.

[Orangetxguy]

Good point, Stan. One thing that I thought about is that their figures are only for those trucks that were inspected. That doesn't necessarily mean that the percentage would be the same with all trucks. They could be targeting trucks that are more likely to be out of compliance rather than random stops. That could skew the figures to support their point of view where it appears that the number of trucks that are out of compliance is far greater than reality.

You hit the nail square there G. This here say's a lot.

Hundreds in S. Texas
Commercial vehicles in Texas traveled 20.86 billion miles in 2008, he said, citing Federal Highway Administration figures.
The DPS targets specific areas for inspections of trucks and buses under its Operation Texas Thunder enforcement effort, McCraw said. One such operation in McMullen County, south of San Antonio, was staged in response to local complaints and put 64 percent of inspected vehicles out of service.

Another Texas Thunder operation in the Corpus Christi area issued 400 citations and put 206 vehicles out of service, McCraw said.

McMullen County is 80 miles wide and 65 miles long, with 2 main roads, Highway 72 and Highway 16, which intersect in the only town in McMullen County....Tilden. There is 1 DPS Trooper who lives in Tilden and works the county. There aren't a lot of DOT inspections going on.....cuz none of the LEO's want to interrupt the business of drilling for oil, producing oil or hauling OIL. So....If 7 trucks were inspected and 4 of those were found to be OOS, they can claim a 64% ratio.

The only complainers about traffic in McMullen county, are the snobs who have to slow down to 60 when they fly up on a slow truck at 100 MPH. The ranchers of McMullen County move out of the way for oilfield traffic....cuz they want their wells drilled and producing ASAP!! Lot's of brand new high end SUV's and pickups in McMullen County.