Commercial Trucks Found In Violation On Merrimack-Area Highways

CONCORD, NH — State Police troopers discovered 212 violations during inspections of commercial trucks traveling in areas of Merrimack, Plymouth and other New Hampshire roads and highways on Thursday. The violations were discovered out of 87 vehicles inspected total. Of the 212 violations, 43 were severe enough to place either the vehicle or the driver out of service, according to State Police Troop G.

Troopers conducted the daylong inspection patrols specifically focused on the trucks' mechanical conditions and ensuring that the drivers had proper license and driving logs. The effort was intended to reduce traffic collisions involving commercial vehicles, State Police say.

In Merrimack, a Rhode Island driver was placed out of service after police discovered his license had been suspended. That driver was stopped and inspected by police on the Everett Turnpike. The truck he was driving was pulling a car carrier trailer, police say.

In Plymouth, police stopped a logging truck that had previously been stopped by State Police on July 17, when it was found to exceed the maximum legal weight of 99,000 pounds. On July 17, the truck weighed in at 151,900 pounds. On Thursday, it still was exceeded the weight limit when it weighed in at 150,000 pounds, according to police. Thursday's stop occurred on Route 25 in Plymouth.

State troopers also came out to Route 28 in Salem on Thursday, as Salem police were investigating an accident involving a school bus, a pickup truck and a dump truck. Seventeen people were injured during the incident, mostly children, who were going to a Salem bowling alley on a field trip from Massachusetts.

State Police say they weighed and inspected both the school bus and the dump truck to ensure those vehicles were in compliance.