Thirty-eight trucks drove away from an Aug. 18 truck safety workshop in the port industrial area sporting federal safety stickers.

The Port of Tacoma and Fife Police Department partnered to offer the truck safety workshop and provide free truck inspections.

Certified inspectors from Fife, Sumner, Federal Way and Pierce County walked drivers around the trucks, explaining inspection criteria and providing Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance stickers on the spot to trucks that passed inspection.

Some of the trucks had minor violations but were corrected on location to pass the inspection. Two of the 40 trucks that participated were unable to pass the inspection.

The stickers alert law enforcement officials to trucks that already have passed inspection, eliminating the need for roadside inspections for three months. As trucks and trucking companies demonstrate consistent safety ratings, they can save on insurance premiums.

Drivers said they appreciated the free event, which reinforced what inspectors look for.

“I feel it’s better to be inspected by the officers to make sure we’re safe and everything works correctly,” said Sergey Derkachev, owner of SGM Global LLC. “If something is wrong, I have the chance to fix it without a ticket.”

Learn more about the Port’s truck programs at www.portoftacoma.com/truck-program.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.