Langley traffic sweep finds commercial-vehicle safety violations

A commercial-vehicle safety sweep in Langley Township quickly identified an allegedly overloaded pickup truck hauling a large trailer. Commercial vehicle inspector Simon Jottey stopped the vehicle after reviewing insurance documents that showed its licensed weight was lower than the load being hauled. Portable scales confirmed the vehicle was overweight.

Jottey said the driver would need to update the vehicle's ICBC information to a higher weight classification if it was overweight, which would cost more. He noted that commercial-vehicle enforcement also applies to pickup trucks and trailers, not only dump trucks and tractor-trailers.

The two-day initiative began Wednesday, Aug. 26, on 216 Street at the interchange overpass near the eastbound Highway 1 exit. Police agencies, Township bylaw enforcement and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officers checked for insecure loads, overweight vehicles and drivers without permits for overloaded, oversized or overheight vehicles.

Jottey is Langley Township's dedicated commercial vehicle enforcement officer, overseeing local compliance and working with Lower Mainland enforcement networks. The Township's commercial vehicle enforcement program, launched in late 2024, expanded inspection capacity through a purpose-built enforcement truck and on-scene digital reporting tools. Jottey said the goal is to have operators correct problems, not simply issue tickets.

The checks have increased after high failure rates at roadside checkpoints. Earlier this year, 56 per cent of commercial vehicles stopped during a joint Lower Mainland operation were ordered off the road for safety violations.

On Sept. 22, Burnaby RCMP and Langley Township, with BC Highway Patrol and WorkSafeBC, will offer a free education session for drivers and companies operating commercial vehicles such as box trucks and delivery vehicles that can be driven with a Class 5 licence. It excludes large transport and semi-truck drivers, including Class 1 licence holders. The session will cover pre-trip inspections, the Commercial Transport Act, truck routes, cargo securement, live loads, vehicle defects and weight rules. Registration and information requests can be sent to E_Burnaby_Traffic_Safety_Initiative@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.