News · Rules & filings
El Paso Truck Inspections Start on Transmountain Road
El Paso truck inspections are now running on Transmountain Road after a deadly brake-failure crash. What owner-operators should check before the grade.
Questions about how this affects your trucks? Talk to a licensed agent who ran his own authority.
What happened
El Paso truck inspections started on Transmountain Road this week. Mayor Renard Johnson and Police Chief Peter Pacillas announced the plan on Oct. 20. They call it "Enough is Enough." It took effect right away.
The El Paso Police Department has its own commercial vehicle inspectors. They will now stop and inspect commercial-size trucks on Transmountain Road (Loop 375).
The move came one day after a deadly crash. On Monday, Oct. 19, eight vehicles crashed on Loop 375 at North Desert and South Desert, near Transmountain in Northwest El Paso. Officials said a semi truck had a reported brake failure on the steep grade. One motorist died. Another driver was seriously hurt.
"Moving goods can never be more important than protecting lives," Mayor Johnson said, as reported by CDLLife.
How long will it last? KFOX14 reported the inspections will go on "until we can get a solution." The mayor said the city will look for safer routes and review state and federal rules. No new penalties were detailed.
There is also a runaway truck ramp on the route. It opened July 1, 2026, and is the first mechanical ramp in Texas, KFOX14 reported. It works, but no truck had used it before this crash.
What it means for owner-operators
If you run through El Paso, expect to be stopped on Transmountain Road. An inspection takes time. If the officer finds a problem, it can cost you a violation, a repair on the spot, or a truck put out of service.
Brakes will be the big focus after this crash. The report did not say brakes are the only thing checked. So plan for a full look at your truck and your paperwork.
The city is also talking about safer routes. That could mean new truck rules on this road later. Nothing has changed yet, so watch for updates before you plan a load through there.
This is not only an El Paso story. Any town with a steep grade and a bad crash can do the same thing. A clean truck and clean papers are what get you back on the road fast.
What to do next
- Check your brakes before the climb. Look at adjustment, air lines and hoses on your pre-trip.
- Write it down. A good DVIR shows you checked. Our DVIR guide explains what to write and keep.
- Know what an inspection looks like. Our DOT inspection levels guide explains Level I, II and III.
- Use a lower gear on the grade. Do not ride the brakes downhill.
- Know where the runaway ramp is before you need it.
- Watch for route changes from the City of El Paso and TxDOT.
Need help getting your file inspection-ready? Call TCZ Permits at 956-526-6727.
Original report
Written by TCZ Permits in our own words. Read the original for the full story.