At any major event people are seen wearing different hats while working together to accomplish the same goal. At sporting events, there are tickets takers, ushers, vendors and security all working in harmony to ensure the spectators have a fun experience. When a catastrophe hits, people come together from police and fire departments, and federal agencies all to keep citizens safe and begin the process of cleanup and rebuilding. In the world of truck enforcement, there are many organizations working together to keep the roads safe and the American economy rolling. So how do these people from different agencies work together?
At highest level is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA establishes the rules and regulations which affect trucks crossing state lines. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) are thorough and can be daunting. This is why the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the Illinois Trucking Association, Illinois Farm Bureau and the Midwest Trucker’s Association work to provide their members information they need to stay legal and safe.
On the flipside of the regulatory coin is the Illinois State Police (ISP). In Illinois, ISP is the only agency allowed to enforce the FMCSR. These troopers are specially trained to inspect trucks and check logbooks among other things. No other organization in Illinois has this authority. When a local officer stops a truck, and see things he feels may not be safe, his course of action should be to reach out to his state police district and ask for help.
Over the years, the Illinois Truck Enforcement Association has worked hard to build a great working relationship with the Illinois State Police. Many troopers support what the ITEA is trying to accomplish. The ITEA’s ability to educate the carrier industry on state law, as well as using ISP as a resource in federal regulation education, has been noticed throughout the industry.
This past year, the ITEA annual conference was held with many representatives of the trucking industry in attendance. Some of the best feedback received reflected how well ISP presented relevant information. One of the big questions from a trucking company is about inspections and the willingness of ISP to present directly to the trucking industry. Their willingness to be available and to answer their questions proved meaningful.
As the ITEA grows, building relationships with agencies and organizations who believe in the same mission, will continue. This mission is to provide high quality information to the trucking industry so they can operate in a safe and legal manner as well as teach law enforcement the ethical way to enforce laws.
As you look at roads in Illinois, notice one thing: all state routes lead to a local road. Truck drivers, local police officers and state troopers are all working together to keep these roads safe. The Illinois Truck Enforcement Association will continue to collaborate with any agency whose goal is to keep America growing.
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