TEXAS — At the direction of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Department of Public Safety troopers are again inspecting commercial vehicles as they make their way into the state from Mexico.

The last time commercial vehicles – trucks in particular – were subject to search at ports of entry, massive backups occurred, disrupting the supply chain and angering drivers. Abbott eventually had to call the program off.

This time, according to a news release from Texas DPS, not all of the vehicles will be inspected. Rather, inspections will be random. The reason given for the inspections is the influx of fentanyl making its way to Texas communities.

“We are committed to enforcing compliance with safety standards and one of our department’s primary functions is to ensure Texas roadways are safe for all Texans and visitors to our great state,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said in the release. “Cartels do not care about the condition of the vehicles they send into Texas any more than they do about the human lives they cram into tractor-trailers or those lost to a fentanyl overdose.” 

Troopers are limited to mechanical inspection. They are not inspecting cargo.

Earlier this year, cross-border traffic plummeted to a third of normal levels due to inspections, according to Mexico’s government. Mexico is a major supplier of fresh vegetables to the U.S., and importers said the wait times and rerouting of trucks to other bridges as far away as Arizona spoiled some produce shipments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.