While the company was not named, police confirmed the trucking company involved was known to police and had been investigated in the past for previous overpass strikes.
A trucking company is under investigation again after one of its trucks hit two overpasses on Thursday morning along Highway 1 in Langley, causing major congestion.
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According to Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with the B.C. Highway Patrol, the tractor-trailer was headed westbound while towing a shipment of pre-formed concrete when it struck both the 264 overpass and a CP Rail overpass around 9:17 a.m.
While damage appeared to be minimal and traffic was flowing again by noon, McLaughlin said there was debris along the roadway and that one lane would remain closed through the area into the afternoon as an investigation took place.
While the company was not named, McLaughlin confirmed the trucking company involved was known to police and had been investigated in the past for previous overpass strikes.
“I can tell you that we have looked into this company for multiple infractions,” said McLaughlin.
Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officers have been tapped to investigate.
Drivers are being told to expect delays in the area until evidence is collected and debris removed from the roadway.
“Simply put, there’s no excuses for crashes and collisions with our infrastructure,” said Rob Fleming, who was serving as transportation minister at the time.
“Let me be clear, these crashes must stop.”
Other measures undertaken by the province to ensure compliance included escalating consequences for companies whose drivers commit repeat offences. In some cases, repeat infractions could result in a suspension of the company’s entire fleet.
Commercial drivers are responsible for knowing the load size they are towing, sticking to pre-determined routes, and ensuring the load is properly secured.
Those in the industry point the finger at inexperienced drivers, lack of training, poor communication between dispatchers and drivers, companies pushing drivers into unsafe situations, low pay, and shippers looking for cut-rate carriers.
Postmedia has reached out to the Ministry of Transportation for comment.
With files from Gordon Hoekstra.