SACRAMENTO – Members of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) and the Association of Motor Carrier Operation Specialists (AMCOS) who are motor carrier specialists with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were devasted to learn of the  limousine crash claiming the lives of 20 people in New York this past weekend (October 6-7, 2018).  All 18 individuals in the  limousine, including the driver, were killed, along with two pedestrians.

“Many of us who work as motor carrier specialists in California were crushed to learn of this horrific tragedy,” said AMCOS President Lynn Brenneman.  “We work every day in the field to inspect  limousine carriers and other commercial motor vehicles for compliance with state and federal regulations.  We actively work to prevent these types of tragedies when we perform in-depth vehicle, driver and records inspections at each company’s place of business. A thorough check of driver credentials is performed to ensure drivers have the proper class of license are familiar with the operation of the vehicles they are driving and, if applicable, are enrolled in a random drug and alcohol testing program. Additionally, we inspect a sample of vehicles and maintenance records to ensure the business has a solid vehicle maintenance program in place to keep the driver, passengers and motoring public safe. These inspections at performed annually on passenger vehicles.”

The public rarely hears about or sees motor carrier specialists at work.  They are vital, behind-the-scenes professionals who know safety out on the highway depends on their careful inspection of commercial motor vehicles including school and tour buses, cargo tanks, hazardous materials and all types of freight haulers.

In addition to vehicle and terminal inspections, some motor carrier specialists are called upon to lend their expertise to the elite CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT).   As part of MAIT, motor carrier specialists perform CSI work on major auto, bus and truck crashes, reconstructing accidents to find the root cause of the collision.

In October 2012, the CHP was recognized as having the “best commercial enforcement program in the nation.”  CHP motor carrier specialists are a huge part of that.

“We know when we are carefully inspecting vehicles that lives depend on our work,” said Brenneman.