Nearly 90 violations discovered during 13 commercial vehicle inspections in Oregon operation
The Salem Police Department (SPD) discovered dozens of equipment, driver, and carrier violations during a recent commercial vehicle inspection operation.
The commercial vehicle inspection operation took place on March 26, 2026, near Hawthorne Avenue NE and Market Street NE in Salem, Oregon.
Police stopped qualifying vehicles and escorted them to a stationary inspection site at a nearby park and ride.
See below for results from the single-day operation, which uncovered a total of 89 violations.
- 13 trucks inspected
- 73 equipment violations identified
- 26 critical out-of-service violations
- 3 driver violations (all out of service)
- 13 carrier violations discovered
- 5 citations issued
- 2 vehicles towed
- 1 driver arrested for Fail to Carry or Present a License and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The driver was transported to Marion County Jail, and the firearm was seized.
SPD emphasized that Medium-Duty trucks are subject to the same commercial vehicle enforcement as larger semi trucks.
“Many drivers are surprised to learn that you don’t need a “semi” to be subject to these safety checks. In Oregon, any truck and trailer combination used for business with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 10,001 lbs or more is legally categorized as a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV). This includes many common heavy-duty pickups and utility trailers. Because these “Medium-Duty” rigs carry significant weight, equipment failures like worn brakes or faulty hitch connections can be devastating. Our goal with these details is education and compliance; ensuring that every business vehicle—from a landscaper’s trailer to a delivery box truck—meets the same rigorous safety standards as a long-haul freighter to keep our community safe,” police said.