-- Daniel Novick-KFOX Morning News Reporter

The Texas Department of Public Safety's 'Roadcheck 2006' program aims to make local roads safer.

Beginning this week, Texas state troopers checked 18-wheelers from top to bottom for loose, missing or broken parts and leaking fuel.

Sgt. Shedrick Duffey with the Texas State Patrol said, "What we are looking for is out-of-service vehicles, flat tires, drivers that are past their hours of service. We're trying to reduce the accident level in the state."

Truck driver Bill Burch said, "They check the whole truck out: the steering, the brakes, all the pivot points, tires, wheels, glass. You know, everything."

The checks are something Texas state troopers do on a weekly basis, but from Tuesday until Thursday all across the state, troopers are checking thousands of commercial trucks in the special program.

Most of the truck drivers KFOX spoke with said the checkpoints are a necessity, even if they don't like the way this program is being run. Truck drivers are usually on a very tight schedule, without a lot of room for unplanned errands or stops.

"It's very important, because something could go wrong at any time. People could be tired and fall asleep... You gotta have your equipment in good order," said truck driver Nick Bucr.

According to the Department of Public Safety, Texas state troopers checked 5,560 vehicles, removed 1,518 vehicles, and took 200 drivers off of the road.