Audit: Underperforming State Agencies Enforcing Truck Size/Weight Laws Leaving Less Cash for Repairing Roads

Louisiana officials have not been enforcing size and weight laws on big trucks, leading to worsening conditions of highways and roads. That’s according to a new report from Louisiana Legislative Auditors. The study examined the performance of the two state agencies which enforce those laws: Louisiana State Police (LSP) and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD).
The report found that overall, between 2023 and 2025, DOTD’s enforcement program weighed fewer trucks, identified fewer violations and issued fewer penalties than in years past. This, despite an increase in budget and staff. Specifically, the report stated that in that two-year window between 2023 to 2025, DOTD weighed more than 13% fewer trucks [page 6], identified half as many violations, issued more than 36% fewer penalties, and collected 42% less in penalties.

Louisiana Legislative Auditors

Yet, all of those drops in performance took place within the context of labor force increases, as DOTD’s employment ranks jumped from 33 enforcement officers in 2023 to 44 by fiscal year 2025; a rise of more than 33%. And it came at the same time as program expenditures increased by just under 14%, from $7.9 million to $9.0 million.
Matt Bloom with Louisiana Public Radio, and the non-profit Louisiana Illuminator explained the two-fold end result of all these factors. “The audit said this led not only to less revenue to maintain state roads, but also made it more likely that overweight trucks were quote, “contributing to the deterioration of road conditions and the overall driving environment.”
As for the operation of the state’s 17 weigh stations, [page 7] the report states 10 are operational, while the remaining seven are closed due to roadway, building, or technology conditions. [page 4]
Oversight and responsibility for the weigh stations has oscillated back and forth over the last three decades. The most recent transfer of control took place in 2023 back to DOTD. State Police check trucks anywhere on state and federal roadways using portable equipment, [page 8] often in combination with other safety inspections. [page 28]

Louisiana Legislative Auditors

The audit further stated, “We observed that 15.6% of trucks illegally bypassed six weigh stations during our field visits. State law gives DOTD the authority to assess a fine of $100 or $500 for each truck that illegally bypasses, based on the gross vehicle weight rating. Supplementing its Police Force with civilian employees may help DOTD direct more of its officers to enforce illegal bypassing.”
Louisiana State Police (LSP) Superintendent Robert Hodges strongly pushed back on some of the conclusions from the audit. In a letter dated July 16, before the audit’s August 5 public release, Hodges wrote that LSP’s enforcement approach is “distinct and appropriately managed, supports targeted collaboration with DOTD when operationally feasible and is committed to technical and legislative improvements identified by the audit.” [page 10]