2014 Commercial Vehicle Inspection a Success at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, Ariz.–On October 14-15, 2014, the Grand Canyon Fee and Commercial Enforcement Unit partnered with the Grand Canyon Concessions and Fee Management Offices to support ongoing inspections of all commercial traffic entering the park. The two-day inspection was also possible through the longstanding partnerships with Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) and the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT). These two agencies provided 60 additional officers to support the inspections.

All commercial vehicles entering the park were inspected for compliance with USDOT and NPS regulations. Over the two day event 182 vehicles were inspected resulting in 271 violations being identified. Several major violations were discovered because of the inspections, including tankers carrying hazardous materials operating inside the park.

Due to the ongoing efforts of the park to work with local transportation companies, all local commercially operated vehicles were in 100% compliance with regulations. Major violations for vehicle equipment and driver non-compliance accounted for 16% of the commercial vehicles that were placed out of service.

The Grand Canyon Fee and Commercial Enforcement Unit dedicates itself to provide the highest level of service to park visitors and staff through annual inspections that help increase safety on all park roadways. All members of the unit hold full Level 1 certifications from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration with a passenger vehicle endorsement. Commercial vehicle inspections are conducted as part of a daily patrols anywhere within Grand Canyon National Park ensuring compliance with USDOT and NPS regulations.