CHP - Cottonwood Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility

06/15/2026

As summer travel picks up, a few simple habits can help keep you and everyone around you safe when sharing the road with large trucks and buses. Here are three quick things we can all do when driving around large vehicles to help stay safe all summer long:
1. Maintain a safe distance
2. Avoid blind spots
3. Watch for wide turns
Help us turn the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer into the 100 Safest Days of Summer by sharing these tips.

06/04/2026

REDDING – Major bridge joint seal work is planned on Interstate 5 after Memorial Day weekend at Cottonwood Creek Bridge, approximately 15 miles south of Redding (near the Shasta/Tehama County Line). Long-term lane closures (tentatively planned for Friday nights through Sunday mornings) will generate lengthy traffic backups with the possibility of extended delays during daytime operations on selected Saturdays. There is no other highway alternative in the area.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area during bridge joint work on Saturdays during daytime hours or plan their travels through the area during nighttime hours when interstate traffic volumes are lesser.

Current schedule (Each weekend from Friday at 10 p.m. to Sunday at 6 a.m.)

Weekend #1 (5/29-5/31): Closure of northbound #2 lane.
Weekend #2 (6/5-6/7): Closure of northbound #1 lane.
Weekend #3 (6/12-6/14): Closure of southbound #2 lane.
Weekend #4 (6/19-6/21): Closure of southbound #1 lane.
Weekend #5 (6/26-6/28): Contingency for any unfinished work
(Note: There will be intermittent ramp closures at the Gas Point onramp heading south, and the Bowman onramp heading north)

J.F. Shea Construction, North Region Construction and Caltrans District 2 thank the traveling public and local communities for their patience during the construction of the project.

06/03/2026

A commendable attempt was made to repair these floor crossmembers on this semi-trailer. However, the end result was not sufficient enough to put the trailer back in service.

06/01/2026

CVSA's special five-day (June 1-5) human trafficking awareness and outreach campaign for the upcoming international men’s football/soccer competition begins today in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
https://cvsa.org/news/2026-wc-htai-underway/

05/28/2026

3 flat tires and 2 ruptured air bags were found on this truck/tractor and trailer. This recipe for disaster no longer posses a threat on the highway thanks to one of our fantastic inspectors.

05/27/2026

FMCSA is investing in safer roads and stronger CDL oversight with the largest Commercial Driver’s License Program Implementation (CDLPI) grant opportunity in agency history - more than $100 million available!
This funding will help:
✅ Identify and address CDL non-compliance
✅ Ensure professional drivers are properly qualified and trained
✅ Strengthen CDL skills and knowledge testing oversight
✅ Improve the integrity and safety of the CDL program nationwide
FMCSA is looking for strong applicants ready to advance roadway safety and support a highly qualified professional driver workforce.
Learn more about the CDLPI grant opportunity and eligibility at the link in comments. Apply today!

05/14/2026

Here at the Cottonwood Commercial Enforcement facility, we find brake violations on a daily basis. Not all brake violations place a vehicle out-of-service. The North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria states that if the number of defective brakes is equal to or greater than 20% of the service brakes on the vehicle or combination, it must be placed out of service. Unfortunately, this truck-tractor and trailer combination had a combined total of four defective brakes. Furthermore, two of the four brakes had pads worn down to the point that the backing plate was grinding into the rotors, as well as leaking wheel seals.

05/04/2026

04/23/2026

Driving requires a motorist’s full attention. Anything that diverts the driver’s eyes or attention from the roadway, even for 1-2 seconds, could result in tragedy. The bottom line, whatever the distraction, “It’s Not Worth It!”

04/16/2026

This week, we’re sending a big thank you to the amazing dispatchers who keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes! Your dedication, quick thinking, and hard work truly make a difference every day. We appreciate all that you do—let’s give our dispatchers a round of applause!