Overview
The Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD) is committed to making Washington’s highways the safest in the nation. CVD is responsible for ensuring industry compliance with federal and state commercial vehicle regulations while sustaining the safe, efficient movement of “over the road” freight throughout Washington State. There are 57 commissioned officers, 45 Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers (CVEOs), and one captain assigned to the division. In order to accomplish our mission, CVD relies on collision data analysis, safety inspections, and enforcement to continue reduction of fatal and injury collisions involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).
Key Measurements and Statistics
Successes of 2019
CVD examines collision data involving CMVs in conjunction with the overall output of traffic stops, weighing operations, and safety inspections to determine the effectiveness of their work effort. In 2019, 49 people lost their lives in collisions involving CMVs on roadways patrolled by the Washington State Patrol (WSP). While this number is down from 53 in 2017, it is up significantly from 38 in 2018 with passenger cars (including motorcycles) at fault in almost 60 percent of the total fatal collisions involving CMVs. Passenger car and motorcycle fatal at fault collisions increased by 13 percent in 2019 from the prior year; however, CMV caused collisions decreased by 8 percent. Injury collisions were up slightly in 2019 with 595, compared to 577 in 2017, and 588 in 2018.
In 2019, CVD conducted 53,386 safety inspections on CMVs and placed 33 percent of the vehicles and 4 percent of the drivers contacted out of service for dangerous safety violations. Safety inspections increased 1 percent from the prior year, and the number of vehicles or drivers placed out of service increased by 36 percent.
The final component of the measurement of our success in CVD is violator contacts and enforcement. CVD contacted 93,432 violators in 2019 and discovered 31,309 violations most likely to cause collisions, up 31 percent from the prior year. Overall, the data indicates our officers continue to target locations and driver behaviors known to contribute to collisions. These contacts often lead to an inspection and enforcement, when appropriate.
The CVD provides regulatory oversight in partnership with the Department of Licensing over the state’s Registered Tow Truck Operators, many of whom also have a Letter of Appointment to provide towing services to the WSP to aid in collision scene clearance and the removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles on our roadways. Troopers conducted inspections on over 630 separate businesses, each with multiple tow trucks. Troopers also inspected over 430 wrecking yards, hulk haulers, and scrap processors.
The CVD SafetyNet (CVDSN) retains responsibility for in-house data collection/distribution, while reporting to WSP partners in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on matters of joint concern. During the year, CVDSN analysts compiled and distributed data from collisions, enforcement activities, inspections, complaints, and community outreach education. This data assisted our troopers and commercial vehicle enforcement officers to focus their efforts at times and locations where they would have the greatest impact to prevent CMV involved injury and fatal collisions. CVDSN achieved a 100 percent rating in four of the eight areas measured by FMCSA; 99 percent in two areas, and 98 percent in the remaining two. This resulted in significant incentive funding from FMCSA to the State of Washington to increase CMV safety efforts.
The CVD continues to incorporate Virtual Weigh in Motion (VWIM) into its Commercial Vehicle Safety Plan. VWIM technology is a force multiplier that operates 24/7 to assess CMVs traveling on our highways for weight and safety violations. In an effort to further prevent damage to the state’s highway infrastructure, commercial vehicle enforcement officers and troopers also conduct portable weighing operations to identify and stop overweight CMVs. The CVD will continue to provide support to the Field Operations Bureau when critical events occur and additional personnel resources are needed.