Buckeye Girls State

Buckeye Girls State was held at Ashland University, June 15-20. Sgt. Jennifer Burkhart of the Ashland Post participated throughout the week. The annual program began in the 1970s and this year included 24 high school students from around the state who were trained in the various aspects of the Patrol.

Buckeye Girls State is a program for Ohio teens co-sponsered by the American Legion, which promotes ideals held by both of our organizations like citizenship, love of country, learning the democratic process and how the different parts of government work together to accomplish a common goal.

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Ashland County United Way fundraiser

Troopers from the Ashland Post participated in a fundraiser for Ashland County United Way on June 13. There were 20 plus mascots in attendance and the MC was Matt Underwood (Ashland High School graduate), voice of the Cleveland Indians.

Troopers were present to distribute safety materials, coloring books and junior badges and Teddy Trooper was Amber Fulmer, daughter of Sergeant Bob Fulmer (pictured).

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Patrol commercial vehicle inspections lead to safer roads and can help economy

By
Lt. Michael Combs
Ashland Post Commander, Ohio State Highway Patrol

The commercial trucking industry represents a large portion of the backbone of the national economy. The next time you are in a store, take note, the chances are most of the items you see and buy were delivered in a commercial vehicle. Transportation experts have estimated that a commercial truck can reach approximately three-quarters of the population of the United States within a 10-hour drive from Ohio.

In struggling economic conditions like presently seen in the United States, the trucking industry is significantly affected. Through issues like high fuel costs and other budgetary concerns there is a tendency for commercial motor carries to cut safety budgets. During tough economic times, it is critically important to make sure carriers are maintaining and operating their trucks properly.

The value of the Patrol’s commercial vehicle enforcement program is inspections are occurring right on the side of the road. Last year Patrol motor carrier enforcement inspectors conducted around 85,000 inspections; the highest such total since 1995 when inspectors transferred into the Patrol from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. When considering that crashes and fatalities involving trucks is on the decline at the same time that inspections are increasing, it is easy to see a positive public safety cause and effect connected to the commercial vehicle inspection program.

The roadside immediacy of the Patrol’s commercial vehicle inspection program means an unsafe truck or driver can immediately be placed out of service if a violation is observed that meets any in a set of agreed upon North American industry safety standards. These are violations deemed so egregious by both industry and safety partners they are likely to cause a breakdown or crash.

Approximately 25 percent of all commercial vehicle inspections and about 6 to 8 percent of the drivers checked by the Patrol do not meet those criteria and are placed out of service on the spot, thus providing significant public value before an incident can occur. Roadside inspection results are also tied into a federally maintained safety rating program by which carriers are incentivized to operate safely. A favorable safety rating can mean lower insurance rates, and increased business and marketing opportunities for a carrier. As a result, the higher-quality carriers welcome the inspection process because they want to keep the carriers who are cutting corners, particularly as it relates to safety, out of the business.

The recent bridge collapse tragedy in Minnesota and Ohio’s Silver Bridge collapse tragedy in 1967 point to another value of the Patrol’s inspection program; maintaining roads and bridges from excessive damage. That is the basic value of the weight enforcement program which directly ties to taxpayer savings from preventing road degradation. The Patrol has 13 operational platform scale facilities and 12 portable scale teams ensuring that commercial vehicles do not travel Ohio roads weighing more than the state law of 80,000 pounds. Patrol inspectors have recorded stops of vehicles that exceeded 200,000 pounds.

Patrol inspectors work closely with the Ohio Department of Transportation to escort oversize loads to ensure safe transport on Ohio roads. Many times, the escort involves equipment that is needed to help the economy because, for instance, a plant has shut down and equipment needs to be moved from one location to another.

Also, the Patrol’s bus inspection program is nationally unique. Each bus in Ohio is inspected by the Patrol once per year, and a decal is placed on the vehicle when it passes inspection. These vehicles include charter busses, airport shuttle busses, and any other bus that might be used in commerce. This program came about several years ago when the Ohio Bus Owners Association approached the Patrol to start an inspection program. Like in the commercial trucking industry, the good carriers welcome the inspection program because it keeps unsafe carriers out of the business.

Every day Patrol commercial vehicle inspectors find vehicles with bad tires, poorly operating brakes, or a variety of other problems that could potentially lead to a tragic situation on an Ohio road. Commercial vehicle safety is obviously important because of the size and weight of the vehicles being operated. By making sure commercial vehicles are as safe as possible to be on the road, and making sure the drivers are qualified to be on the road, Patrol motor carrier enforcement inspectors are working for a safer Ohio and stronger economic future for our country.

Upcoming Events

Ashland Post troopers will to participate in the annual Torch Run on June 26 to benefit Special Olympics.

Independence Day weekend, July 4-6

Post Open House - To celebrate the Highway Patrol’s 75th anniversary the Ashland Post will be hosting an open house on August 10, 2008, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. The open house is for the public and we welcome and encourage all to attend. The event will feature Highway Patrol historical photos and history, patrol cars, specialty vehicles, narcotics canine, motorcycles, and more. Troopers will be on hand to greet the public. Traffic safety and informational displays, videos, and photos will also be available. “Teddy Trooper” will be at the Post to greet children and for photos.

Maps and Statistics

2006-2008YTD Fatal Crash Locations in Ashland County

2008 Weapons Violations

2008 Drug Violations

2008 Recovered Stolen Vehicles

2008 Felony Arrests and Warrants