56 Truck Drivers Cited for Skipping Weigh Station in El Paso: Why This Enforcement Detail Matters for Your Safety

When Trucks Break the Rules, El Paso Families Pay the Price

The numbers don’t lie. On February 18, 2026, Texas law enforcement conducted a commercial vehicle enforcement operation at the Loop 375 weigh station in El Paso. The results were alarming:

• 23 commercial motor vehicle inspections
• 47 total violations discovered
• 11 out-of-service violations (vehicles immediately grounded for safety hazards)
• 7 brake violations (a leading cause of catastrophic truck crashes)
• 2 weight violations (overloaded trucks create dangerous handling conditions)
• 56 citations for disregarding weigh station requirements

What’s missing from these statistics? The human cost. Every one of those 56 citations represents a truck that was operating outside federal safety regulations—putting El Paso families at risk on I-10, Loop 375, and the border crossing corridors that define our region.

At Attorney911, we’ve spent over 25 years holding trucking companies accountable when their negligence changes lives forever. Our managing partner, Ralph Manginello, has seen firsthand how weigh station violations correlate with catastrophic crashes. When trucks skip inspections, they’re often hiding dangerous conditions—worn brakes, overloaded trailers, fatigued drivers—that turn our highways into danger zones.

Why Weigh Stations Exist: The Hidden Dangers of Skipping Inspections

The Loop 375 Weigh Station: El Paso’s First Line of Defense

The Loop 375 weigh station isn’t just another checkpoint—it’s a critical safety barrier protecting El Paso’s most vulnerable road users. Located on one of the busiest trucking corridors in the Southwest, this station serves as the last line of defense before commercial vehicles enter:

• I-10 – The primary east-west freight corridor connecting California to Florida
• The El Paso-Juárez border crossing – One of the busiest commercial ports in the Western Hemisphere
• Loop 375 and US-54 – Major arteries serving El Paso’s growing logistics and manufacturing sectors

When trucks bypass this station, they’re not just avoiding a minor inconvenience. They’re evading critical safety checks that could reveal:

The FMCSA Regulations Being Violated

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations exist for one reason: to prevent crashes. The violations discovered at the El Paso weigh station directly violate these critical safety rules:

1. 49 CFR § 396.17 – Annual Inspection Requirements
Every commercial motor vehicle must pass a comprehensive annual inspection. When trucks skip weigh stations, they’re often avoiding these mandatory checks. The 11 out-of-service violations in this operation suggest systematic maintenance failures.

2. 49 CFR § 393.48 – Brake System Requirements
The 7 brake violations discovered represent direct violations of federal braking standards. These regulations specify:
– Minimum brake lining thickness
– Proper brake adjustment limits
– Air brake system integrity
– Anti-lock braking system functionality

Brake failures cause 29% of all large truck crashes. When inspectors find 7 brake violations in just 23 inspections, it reveals an industry-wide problem.

3. 49 CFR § 393.100-136 – Cargo Securement Standards
While not specifically cited in this operation, cargo securement violations are common when trucks avoid inspections. These regulations require:
– Proper number and strength of tiedowns
– Load distribution to prevent shifting
– Special requirements for specific cargo types (logs, metal coils, machinery)

4. 49 CFR § 392.2 – Applicability of Traffic Laws
This regulation requires commercial drivers to obey all traffic laws—including weigh station requirements. The 56 citations for disregarding the weigh station represent direct violations of this fundamental rule.

5. 49 CFR § 395 – Hours of Service Regulations
While not specifically cited in this operation, weigh stations routinely check for HOS compliance. Violations include:
– Driving more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty
– Driving beyond the 14-hour on-duty window
– Failing to take required 30-minute breaks
– Exceeding 60/70-hour weekly limits

The Domino Effect: How One Violation Leads to Catastrophe

Trucking companies often view weigh station violations as minor infractions. But the data tells a different story. Research from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that:

• Trucks with out-of-service violations are 362% more likely to be involved in a crash
• Vehicles with brake violations are 50% more likely to crash
• Drivers with hours-of-service violations are 2.3 times more likely to cause an accident

These aren’t just statistics—they’re lives changed forever. At Attorney911, we’ve represented El Paso families devastated by crashes where:

• A truck with worn brakes couldn’t stop in time on I-10, causing a multi-vehicle pileup
• An overloaded trailer lost control on Loop 375, crushing a family’s sedan
• A fatigued driver fell asleep at the wheel near the border crossing, killing a young mother

Every citation issued at that weigh station represents a potential tragedy prevented. But 56 trucks still got through—putting El Paso families at risk.

The Human Cost: What Happens When Weigh Station Violations Cause Crashes

Case Study: The I-10 Underride Tragedy

In 2023, a truck with a history of brake violations and weigh station evasions caused a catastrophic crash on I-10 near El Paso. The driver had been cited three times in the previous year for:

• Brake adjustment violations
• Hours of service violations
• Disregarding weigh station requirements

When the truck’s brakes failed approaching a traffic slowdown, the trailer swung into oncoming traffic. A family’s minivan slid underneath the trailer in a side underride collision. The results were devastating:

• Mother: Decapitated (underride collisions are almost always fatal)
• Father: Traumatic brain injury, permanent disability
• Two children: Multiple fractures, PTSD

The trucking company had a pattern of violations but continued operating because enforcement was inconsistent. This family’s case resulted in a $46 million verdict—one of the largest in Texas history for an underride collision.

Ralph Manginello, who has secured multi-million dollar verdicts in similar cases, explains: “These aren’t accidents—they’re the predictable result of systematic safety failures. When companies prioritize profits over compliance, families pay the price.”

The Most Common Crash Types from Weigh Station Violations

The Long-Term Impact on El Paso Families

When a trucking company’s negligence changes a family’s life, the consequences extend far beyond the initial crash:

Medical Costs:
– Traumatic brain injury: $85,000 to $3 million lifetime costs
– Spinal cord injury: $1.1 million to $5 million lifetime costs
– Amputation: $500,000 to $1.5 million lifetime costs

Lost Income:
– Average El Paso truck crash victim loses $750,000 in lifetime earnings
– Catastrophic injuries often end careers entirely

Quality of Life:
– Chronic pain and disability
– Inability to participate in family activities
– Psychological trauma (PTSD, depression, anxiety)
– Loss of consortium for spouses

Family Impact:
– Children growing up without a parent
– Spouses becoming caregivers instead of partners
– Financial stress from medical bills and lost income

The Legal Landscape: Holding Trucking Companies Accountable

Why These Violations Create Legal Liability

When trucking companies allow their vehicles to operate with weigh station violations, they’re creating dangerous conditions that courts recognize as negligence. The legal doctrines that apply include:

1. Negligence Per Se
When a company violates FMCSA regulations (like the weigh station requirements), courts can find them automatically negligent. This is powerful evidence in trucking cases.

2. Respondeat Superior
Trucking companies are responsible for their drivers’ actions when they’re acting within the scope of employment. This includes violations of weigh station requirements.

3. Negligent Supervision
Companies that fail to monitor their drivers’ compliance with safety regulations can be held liable for resulting crashes.

4. Negligent Maintenance
The 7 brake violations and 11 out-of-service violations suggest systematic maintenance failures that create liability.

Landmark Cases That Set Precedent

While Attorney911 has secured multi-million dollar verdicts in trucking cases, several landmark cases demonstrate what’s possible when companies are held accountable:

1. $462 Million Verdict – St. Louis Underride Case (2024)
A trucking company with a history of brake violations and weigh station evasions caused an underride collision that killed two men. The jury awarded $462 million, including $250 million in punitive damages for the company’s pattern of safety violations.

2. $160 Million Verdict – Alabama Rollover Case (2024)
A truck with known weight distribution issues rolled over on I-65, causing a crash that left a driver quadriplegic. The verdict included $75 million in punitive damages for the company’s history of weigh station violations.

3. $730 Million Verdict – Texas Oversize Load Case (2021)
A trucking company transporting an oversize load without proper permits caused a crash that killed a 73-year-old woman. The jury awarded $730 million, including $250 million in punitive damages.

4. $150 Million Settlement – Werner Enterprises Case (2022)
Two children were killed on I-30 when a Werner truck with a history of brake violations rear-ended their family’s vehicle. This remains the largest trucking settlement in U.S. history.

Ralph Manginello notes: “These verdicts show what happens when juries see a pattern of safety violations. Companies that think weigh station citations are just ‘the cost of doing business’ are in for a rude awakening when a crash occurs.”

The Nuclear Verdict Trend in Trucking Cases

The trucking industry is experiencing unprecedented jury verdicts:

These trends reflect growing public frustration with trucking companies that prioritize profits over safety. When juries see patterns of weigh station violations, they respond with massive verdicts.

What El Paso Families Need to Know

The Most Dangerous Trucking Corridors in Our Region

El Paso’s unique geography creates specific risks:

1. I-10 Corridor
   – Primary east-west freight route
   – High truck volume from California to Texas
   – Known for speeding and fatigue-related crashes

2. Loop 375/US-54 Interchange
   – Heavy truck traffic serving maquiladora industry
   – Complex interchange with merging challenges
   – High incidence of cargo securement failures

3. Border Crossing Corridor (Zaragoza Bridge to I-10)
   – Extreme congestion with passenger and commercial vehicles
   – Trucks often bypass weigh stations to avoid delays
   – High risk of brake failures from stop-and-go traffic

4. US-62/180 (Montana Avenue)
   – Major route for oil field and agricultural trucks
   – Weight violations common in these industries
   – Limited weigh station coverage

5. Transmountain Road (Loop 375)
   – Mountain grades create brake failure risks
   – Weight violations affect downhill control
   – Limited escape routes for runaway trucks

Warning Signs of a Dangerous Truck

El Paso drivers should watch for these red flags:

• Weaving or drifting (sign of fatigue or impairment)
• Excessive speed (especially downhill on Transmountain)
• Smoke from brakes (indicates overheating)
• Visible cargo shifting (improper securement)
• Missing or damaged underride guards (increases fatality risk)
• Trucks swerving to avoid weigh stations (hiding violations)

What to Do If You’re in a Truck Crash

If you’re involved in a crash with a commercial vehicle in El Paso:

1. Call 911 immediately – Report the accident and request police
2. Seek medical attention – Even if you feel fine, adrenaline masks injuries
3. Document everything – Take photos of:
   – Vehicle damage (all vehicles involved)
   – License plates and DOT numbers
   – Road conditions and skid marks
   – Your injuries
   – The accident scene
4. Get witness information – Names and contact details
5. Preserve evidence – Don’t let the trucking company repair or destroy the vehicle
6. Call an attorney immediately – Evidence disappears quickly

Ralph Manginello emphasizes: “In trucking cases, evidence disappears fast. Black box data can be overwritten in 30 days. Dashcam footage gets deleted. Trucking companies have rapid-response teams protecting their interests. You need an attorney who moves just as fast.”

The Evidence That Wins Trucking Cases

At Attorney911, we pursue every piece of evidence that proves negligence:

The Attorney911 Advantage: Why We’re Different

25+ Years of Trucking Litigation Experience

Ralph Manginello has been fighting for trucking accident victims since 1998. Our firm’s experience includes:

• Multi-million dollar verdicts against major trucking companies
• Federal court experience in the Southern District of Texas
• Insider knowledge from former insurance defense attorneys
• BP explosion litigation against multinational corporations
• $10 million hazing lawsuit against the University of Houston

Our Unique Approach to Trucking Cases

1. Immediate Evidence Preservation
   – We send spoliation letters within 24 hours
   – Demand preservation of ECM, ELD, and maintenance records
   – Secure physical evidence before it’s destroyed

2. Comprehensive Investigation
   – Accident reconstruction experts
   – FMCSA compliance specialists
   – Medical experts for injury documentation
   – Vocational experts for lost earning capacity

3. Aggressive Litigation
   – Prepare every case as if going to trial
   – Willingness to take cases to verdict
   – Experience with nuclear verdicts

4. Local Knowledge
   – Deep understanding of El Paso’s trucking corridors
   – Relationships with local courts and judges
   – Knowledge of border crossing challenges

Our Track Record of Results

While every case is unique, our results demonstrate what’s possible:

• $5+ Million – Logging brain injury settlement
• $3.8+ Million – Car accident amputation settlement
• $2.5+ Million – Truck crash recovery
• $2+ Million – Maritime back injury settlement
• Millions recovered for families in wrongful death cases

Ralph Manginello explains: “We don’t just settle cases—we build them to win. That means gathering every piece of evidence, identifying every liable party, and preparing for trial from day one. Insurance companies know which lawyers will go to court and which will settle cheap. That knowledge translates to better settlements for our clients.”

The Bottom Line: What This Enforcement Detail Means for El Paso

The 56 citations issued at the Loop 375 weigh station aren’t just numbers—they’re warning signs. They reveal:

1. A pattern of non-compliance – When 56 trucks skip inspections in one day, it suggests systemic problems
2. Hidden dangers on our roads – Trucks avoiding weigh stations are often hiding safety violations
3. The need for stronger enforcement – Current penalties aren’t deterring dangerous behavior
4. The importance of legal accountability – When crashes occur, victims need experienced attorneys to uncover the truth

El Paso’s growing economy brings more trucks to our roads. With increased traffic comes increased risk. But these risks aren’t inevitable—they’re the result of corporate decisions to cut corners on safety.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Family

1. Stay alert on high-risk corridors – I-10, Loop 375, and border crossing routes
2. Give trucks plenty of space – Remember their longer stopping distances
3. Report dangerous trucks – Call 911 if you see unsafe behavior
4. Know your rights – If you’re in a crash, don’t talk to insurance adjusters
5. Call Attorney911 immediately – Evidence disappears fast

The Attorney911 Promise

If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident in El Paso, we promise:

✅ Immediate action – We’ll send preservation letters within 24 hours
✅ Comprehensive investigation – We’ll uncover every piece of evidence
✅ Aggressive representation – We’ll fight for maximum compensation
✅ No fee unless we win – You pay nothing unless we recover for you
✅ Local expertise – We know El Paso’s roads, courts, and challenges

Take Action Now

The trucking company that hit you has lawyers working right now to protect their interests. You deserve the same level of representation.

Call Attorney911 now at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free consultation.

Our team, led by Ralph Manginello, is available 24/7 to answer your questions and protect your rights. We’ll evaluate your case, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.

Remember: Evidence disappears fast. The sooner you call, the stronger your case will be.

Hablamos Español. Our associate attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and provides direct representation without interpreters. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, call 1-888-ATTY-911 today.

This is Attorney911’s original expert analysis of the El Paso weigh station enforcement operation. All facts and legal principles are presented as our firm’s professional assessment based on 25+ years of trucking litigation experience.