The Oregon Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Division weighed more than 26,000 commercial trucks during an intensive size and weight enforcement effort along the Interstate 84 corridor last week.
Weigh stations along Interstate 84, U.S. 730, U.S. 26 and U.S. 20 were open continuously for 57 hours from May 13-15.

"Although our staff performs this type of work every day, intensive operations like this help reinforce the message that weight and safety compliance are our top priority," said Ed Scrivner, ODOT motor carrier field services manager.

In Oregon, commercial vehicles over 26,000 pounds pay a weight-mile tax, which is a large part of the funding the state uses to maintain public roads and bridges. The weight-mile tax is paid instead of the fuel tax paid by passenger vehicles. In 2008, the state collected more than $240 million in weight-mile taxes.

About 1.8 percent of the trucks received enforcement warnings or citations. ODOT Motor Carrier enforcement officers will also use the event to educate truck drivers about common compliance mistakes.

"Although the majority of trucking companies operating on Oregon's highways abide by Oregon law and have compliance-conscious drivers, an intensive enforcement event like this can help identify those who are not," said Scrivner.