Trucking News · Kentucky · October 31, 2026

Kentucky Troopers Use Thermal Cameras at the I-24 Scale to Find Flat Tires Truck Drivers Did Not Know About

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Kentucky State Police say technology at a scale house caught flat truck tires that the truck drivers did not know about. On Oct. 28, KSP Public Information Officer Michael Smith shared that inspectors at the Interstate 24 East scale facility in Kuttawa found numerous tire-related issues using thermal imaging cameras and tire pressure monitoring systems, CDL Life and ATruckDrivers reported on Oct. 30.

What KSP said

In his words, officers "identified numerous tire-related issues, including flat tires that drivers were completely unaware of by utilizing thermal imaging cameras and tire pressure monitoring systems." According to the reports, inspectors monitoring commercial vehicles at the facility found the problems that week. The technology let them stop the trucks before the vehicles continued down the interstate.

"These findings are a powerful reminder of why commercial vehicle inspections and monitoring are so important," Smith said. "A tire issue that goes undetected can quickly become a serious hazard, potentially placing the commercial vehicle operator and everyone sharing the roadway at risk. Attention to detail and the use of available technology help identify potential safety concerns and reduce the risk of preventable crashes."

KSP also praised the inspectors' work: "Their efforts help make a difference, one inspection at a time." The agency shared images of the tire issues found at the scale.

What KSP did not say

ATruckDrivers reported that KSP did not say how many trucks were affected or whether any were placed out of service. The reports also did not describe what kind of thermal imaging equipment the inspectors used or how the system flags a tire. Big Rig Daily is limited to what KSP and the reports said.

What this means for a pre-trip

Truck drivers are expected to check their tires during a pre-trip inspection. KSP's message was that monitoring technology helps identify tire problems that can otherwise go undetected until they become a hazard.

Quick facts

• Where: the Interstate 24 East scale facility in Kuttawa, Kentucky.
• Reported by: Kentucky State Police, Oct. 28, 2026.
• Found: numerous tire-related issues, including flat tires drivers were completely unaware of.
• Tools: thermal imaging cameras and tire pressure monitoring systems.
• Not stated: how many trucks were affected or whether any were put out of service.

For a refresher on the daily walk-around, see Big Rig Daily's pre-trip inspection checklist and how weigh stations work.

A question for readers

Is this kind of technology a lifesaver, or just one more way to get written up at the scale?

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