Top truck and bus safety enforcement personnel from the United States, Canada and Mexico will compete Aug. 19-23 in Minneapolis for safety inspection honors.

"This event dramatically demonstrates the contributions to safety made by the nation's inspectors, who conduct more than 2 million comprehensive roadside safety inspections each year," Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater said. "Also, it helps ensure that inspectors across North America are all using the same high standards in conducting inspections."

"Challenge '97" is the fifth annual International Inspector Competition sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, along with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the American Trucking Associations. It will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Center in conjunction with the yearly ATA truck driving championships.

The contestants are from the United States, Canada and Mexico. They will take written tests on their knowledge and understanding of commercial vehicle and driver safety standards. They also will take part in practical exercises to determine their ability to discover safety defects and violations during roadside inspections.

The grand champion of the 1996 event, held in Columbus, Ohio, was Alonzo Hutto, a South Carolina state trooper.

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