​If you’ve been driving a truck or other heavy vehicles for a long time, you may remember a time when inspections weren’t quite as strict or stringent as they are now. One of the big shifts that happened recently regards the upkeep of brake systems, with new standards requiring a schedule of maintenance at least once a year. There are a few reasons for this, but today we’re just going to talk about two of them.

Spring and summer are the favourite seasons of many Alberta drivers, for good reason – no more salted roads, no more snow and ice, no more early darkness! But as the warm weather kicks in, and the volume of commercial truck traffic increases, so does the frequency of commercial truck inspections.

These temporary stations are often seen at the roadside on highways throughout the province, conducting safety inspections on drivers, vehicles, and cargo alike. But what you might not know is that there are also mobile versions! These pop-up inspection stations can set up in new locations all the time (there have been a few spotted on Stoney Trail already!), and catch unsuspecting drivers. These “blitz” style operations are nearly impossible to predict, and can’t be avoided when you’re already cruising down the highway.