News release

BC Highway Patrol teams up with CVSE to remove 15 unsafe trucks from Highway #97

March 12, 2026 - Keremeos, British Columbia
From: BC Highway Patrol

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Fifteen trucks have been removed from the road after two recent joint force operations (JFO) between BC Highway Patrol and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) officers in the Okanagan.

On February 26, 2026, on Highway #97 near Osoyoos, BC Highway Patrol and CVSE officers worked side by side with the following results:

• 36 light and heavy commercial vehicle checks;
• 10 violation tickets;
• 16 inspections or repairs ordered
• 4 commercial vehicles removed from service.

On March 7, 2026, on Highway #97 north of Summerland, a second JFO accomplished even more:

• Almost 60 light and heavy commercial vehicle checks;
• 37 violation tickets;
• 41 inspections or repairs ordered;
• 11 commercial vehicles removed from service.

“Good operators are getting undercut by unsafe drivers who do not spend money on repairs and maintenance,” says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Not only do Joint Force Operations make the roads safer immediately, they also encourage a level playing field for the bulk of commercial drivers who are following the law and taking pride in their work.”

During JFOs, vehicles are pulled over for more in-depth inspections when investigators have observed suspected mechanical or safety issues, so statistics resulting from these operations are not representative of the industry as a whole.

Throughout 2026, BC Highway Patrol will continue its ongoing partnership with CVSE on highways throughout the province to ensure that commercial operators are driving safely and within the law.

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