Calgary police release results of commercial vehicle inspection
The Calgary Police Service recently completed its three-day fall commercial vehicle inspection in high-volume traffic areas around Calgary.
The checks were conducted from Tuesday, Sept. 15, through Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in partnership with Sheriff Highway Patrol (SHP), Alberta Transportation Vehicle Safety and Economic Corridors, Airdrie Bylaw, and The City of Calgary.
In that time, a total of 197 vehicles were inspected, with the following results:
· 100 vehicles were found to have critical defects that placed them out of service. (51 per cent)
· 36 vehicles were found to have major defects that required attention. (18 per cent)
· 61 vehicles passed with no critical defects. (31 per cent)
A total of 98 violation tickets were issued. Additionally, one driver was charged for operating a commercial vehicle without a valid license.
Among the most common defects to be found were worn tires, poorly secured cargo, and inadequate brakes. Additionally, defective headlights, faulty steering systems, and leaking fuel tanks were also found.
“Commercial vehicle drivers perform a critical service for Calgarians, transporting important goods we all rely on,” said Insp. Robert Patterson, with the Calgary Police Traffic Unit. “However, it’s critical that those vehicles meet all legal standards to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.”
The percentage of vehicles placed out of service during this inspection (51 per cent) was slightly higher than during the inspection event that took place in the spring (48 per cent).
Photos of some of the vehicle violations detected during the most recent inspection are available on The City Of Calgary Newsroom.
The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria is the pass-fail criteria for inspections and identifies critical violations that can prohibit a motor carrier or driver from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a specified period of time, or until the condition is corrected.
A list of the requirements and resources are available on the CVSA website, including a North American Standard Roadside Inspection Vehicle Cheat Sheet at www.cvsa.org/inspections/resources.
