State Department of Transportation opens new truck inspection site on Long Island Expressway in Dix Hills
State inspectors and local police conducting operations at the new DOT commercial vehicle inspection site located between exits 51 and 53 on the westbound LIE. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
The first truck that pulled into the state's newly opened commercial vehicle inspection site in Dix Hills was the first to receive a violation.
Minutes after officials cut the ribbon on the Long Island Expressway's newest enforcement area, a black truck with the words “Demolition Services” in neon letters on the back was cited. The truck lacked a proper highway use permit, had unnecessary blinking lights and received a less-than perfect “Level 2" inspection, said the Suffolk police officer inspecting the truck.
It received at least three violations.
This was the beginning of several safety measures by the state's Department of Transportation, taken and enforced at the westbound site, between Exits 53 and 51, which opened Thursday morning.
“Trucking is literally a lifeline, said Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the state's DOT. “And during COVID, We saw how important that was. We have to make sure that we maintain a framework for them to do their job and for us as the traveling public … to make sure that it's a safe operating environment.”
The location, across from Long Island Welcome Center, joins two other inspection sites — on both sides of the LIE by Exit 66. There are others on Long Island, including ones on Sunrise Highway and Route 878, the expressway spanning western Nassau County into Queens.
The new site is located at a former truck rest stop area. For almost eight years it sat barricaded, with about 21,000 trucks passing it daily.
In 2023, the state inspected more than 119,000 commercial vehicles, 17% of which occurred in Nassau and Suffolk counties combined. Figures for revenue generated from those inspections were not immediately available.
This inspection rate is similar to previous years dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jonathan Nicastro, director of the DOT motor carrier compliance bureau.
The frequency of inspections will occur as needed, but the site will operate at least five to six days a week staffed by Suffolk County Police at differing times of the day, Nicastro said. Inspections are rotated between enforcement sites and are conducted by the law enforcement authority overseeing that road.
“We're out here every single day,” he said.
Around 7% of drivers are taken off the road for failed inspections and 23% of vehicles are taken out of service following an inspection, Nicastro said.
The site is set off the highway and protected by a guiderail, allowing law enforcement to safely check vehicles, officials said.
Police inspect for a variety of safety issues, including proper permits and issues regarding weight, tires and load. If a truck does not meet legal standards, drivers and companies can be ticketed and fined. Violations of those rules can damage the infrastructure or road surface, state officials said.
Inspections can take 20 minutes or last for hours.
Officers also check on the driver’s well being and can look at their sleep logs.
The first truck that pulled into the state's newly opened commercial vehicle inspection site in Dix Hills was the first to receive a violation.
Minutes after officials cut the ribbon on the Long Island Expressway's newest enforcement area, a black truck with the words “Demolition Services” in neon letters on the back was cited. The truck lacked a proper highway use permit, had unnecessary blinking lights and received a less-than perfect “Level 2" inspection, said the Suffolk police officer inspecting the truck.
It received at least three violations.
This was the beginning of several safety measures by the state's Department of Transportation, taken and enforced at the westbound site, between Exits 53 and 51, which opened Thursday morning.
“Trucking is literally a lifeline, said Marie Therese Dominguez, commissioner of the state's DOT. “And during COVID, We saw how important that was. We have to make sure that we maintain a framework for them to do their job and for us as the traveling public … to make sure that it's a safe operating environment.”
The location, across from Long Island Welcome Center, joins two other inspection sites — on both sides of the LIE by Exit 66. There are others on Long Island, including ones on Sunrise Highway and Route 878, the expressway spanning western Nassau County into Queens.
The new site is located at a former truck rest stop area. For almost eight years it sat barricaded, with about 21,000 trucks passing it daily.
In 2023, the state inspected more than 119,000 commercial vehicles, 17% of which occurred in Nassau and Suffolk counties combined. Figures for revenue generated from those inspections were not immediately available.
This inspection rate is similar to previous years dating back to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jonathan Nicastro, director of the DOT motor carrier compliance bureau.
The frequency of inspections will occur as needed, but the site will operate at least five to six days a week staffed by Suffolk County Police at differing times of the day, Nicastro said. Inspections are rotated between enforcement sites and are conducted by the law enforcement authority overseeing that road.
“We're out here every single day,” he said.
Around 7% of drivers are taken off the road for failed inspections and 23% of vehicles are taken out of service following an inspection, Nicastro said.
The site is set off the highway and protected by a guiderail, allowing law enforcement to safely check vehicles, officials said.
Police inspect for a variety of safety issues, including proper permits and issues regarding weight, tires and load. If a truck does not meet legal standards, drivers and companies can be ticketed and fined. Violations of those rules can damage the infrastructure or road surface, state officials said.
Inspections can take 20 minutes or last for hours.
Officers also check on the driver’s well being and can look at their sleep logs.
