Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Overview

The Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) is responsible for the staffing and operation of 14 scale facilities and conducts road patrol activities focused on commercial vehicle enforcement, e.g., enforcement related to traffic, commercial vehicle drivers and equipment, size and weight, hazardous materials transportation and regulatory requirements.  Additionally, the division's commercial vehicle enforcement responsibilities include conducting federal compliance reviews and investigations, school bus inspections, commercial vehicle training for division personnel as well as local and county law enforcement officers and conducting new entrant safety audits.  Currently CVED has 115 motor carrier officers, 10 investigators, 4 safety auditors and 11 school bus inspectors. 

Programs and Activities

• Weigh Station Operations
  The CVED operates 14 weigh stations at 10 locations throughout the state.  Officers at these locations monitor vehicles for compliance with size and weight requirements, perform driver/vehicle safety inspections, verify driver's credentials, enforce regulatory violations, enforce hours-of-service requirements, interdict criminal activities including cargo theft, vehicle theft, CCW, drugs, illegal tobacco products, and promote homeland security.

• Road Patrol Operations
  The CVED's road patrol function provides commercial vehicle enforcement on freeways, state trunk lines, and county roadways.  These operations supplement scale activities as well as provide a CMV enforcement in locations where scale facilities are non-existent.  Patrol activities include the same enforcement responsibilities as an officer working at a weigh station, however, patrol officers are also responsible for CMV traffic enforcement.  Road patrol officers conduct weight enforcement through the use of portable scales that are carried in each of the division's patrol vehicles.

• Hazardous Materials and Investigation Unit
  The primary responsibility of the Hazardous Materials and Investigation Unit is to conduct federal compliance reviews and investigations on motor carriers whose performance indicates a potential safety hazard to the general public.  Additional duties include responding to crashes involving hazardous materials, providing hazardous materials training to division members and conducting CMV patrol activities as appropriate. 

• Bus Inspection Unit
  The Bus Inspection Unit is charged with inspecting Michigan's private and public school buses.  In 2015/2016, members inspected 15,830 buses.  

• Safety Audit Unit
  The Safety Audit Unit conducts safety audits on new motor carriers within the first 12 months of operation to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations. Motor carrier investigators supplement the performance of safety audits as required.   

• Training Unit
  Training in Commercial Vehicle Enforcement is provided to local enforcement officers, county weighmasters, judges, magistrates, and prosecutors as well as CVED members.  CVED also conducts safety presentations for trucking industry groups and the general public.  These presentations are intended to assist the industry in understanding complex regulations and enhance the public's ability to share the road safely with large trucks.

Homeland Security

• Special Border Enforcement Grant
  CVED receives a special grant from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to enhance safety and security at our three international borders (Detroit, Port Huron, and Sault St. Marie).  Through this grant officers conduct vehicle and driver inspections entering and exiting Michigan in an effort to ensure compliance with Federal and State regulations.