The South Dakota Highway Patrol held a trucker appreciation event to mark the opening of their new inspection facility at the Tilford Port of Entry near Rapid City.
When: The event took place on Wednesday, September 18th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What's New: Officers at the event provided burgers, hot dogs, and side dishes for truckers passing through. A tour of the new inspection facility was also part of the day.
- The facility now includes a bay for year-round inspections, providing a shield from bad weather.
- Truckers now have an indoor waiting area, keeping them out of the elements during inspections.
Inspection Upgrades: “The big difference is this bay behind us. Now we can do inspections all year-round. We don’t have to worry about the weather or the snow out here in the parking lot or whether or not we can crawl under a truck,” said Brian Stenbeck, an inspector at the port of entry, according to CDLLife.
Truckers from across the country participated, enjoying food and receiving small gifts like pens and tote bags.
The new inspection bay and waiting area aim to make life easier for truckers, especially in South Dakota’s often challenging weather.