Pennsylvania DOT Gets Tough on Truckers

Harrisburg, Pa. — The U.S. DOT, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) have combined to create Operation Clean Sweep, a 500-member enforcement initiative that conducts surprise inspections of trash trucks at landfills. The operation began Monday, and more than 6,300 trash-truck inspections were completed. 1,278 trucks had environmental, safety or weight violations, and 115 trucks were taken out of service for too many safety violations. DEP inspectors check for proper covers and tarps on trucks; leaking trucks; identification and documentation of the source of the waste; and the general cleanliness of each truck.