Feds More Likely to Shutter Unsafe Trucking Companies

The trucking industry website Commercial Carrier Journal has found that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has “been on a tear” for the last year, showing an increased willingness to declare bus and truck fleets an “imminent hazard” and issuing out-of-service orders.

Such orders went from 10 in 2011 to 48 in 2012—a time period that coincides with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Compliance, Safety, Accountability” program aimed at improving large truck and bus safety.

“While official numbers from FMCSA show fairly level numbers between fiscal 2011 and 2012, one trucking consultant has seen Unfit/Out-of-Service orders spike for carriers found in serious noncompliance after not following through on corrective action plans – a do-or-die fix-it list,” CCJ reported.

Most infractions are either in vehicle maintenance or hours of service, the journal reported.

“Interventions can be as intensive as traditional full compliance reviews – called ‘onsite comprehensive investigations’ within Compliance Safety Accountability – or as simple as a warning letter,” CCJ reported.

The trucking industry website Commercial Carrier Journal has found that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has “been on a tear” for the last year, showing an increased willingness to declare bus and truck fleets an “imminent hazard” and issuing out-of-service orders.

Such orders went from 10 in 2011 to 48 in 2012—a time period that coincides with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Compliance, Safety, Accountability” program aimed at improving large truck and bus safety.

“While official numbers from FMCSA show fairly level numbers between fiscal 2011 and 2012, one trucking consultant has seen Unfit/Out-of-Service orders spike for carriers found in serious noncompliance after not following through on corrective action plans – a do-or-die fix-it list,” CCJ reported.

Most infractions are either in vehicle maintenance or hours of service, the journal reported.

“Interventions can be as intensive as traditional full compliance reviews – called ‘onsite comprehensive investigations’ within Compliance Safety Accountability – or as simple as a warning letter,” CCJ reported.

The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson provides legal representation to victims of trucking and other commercial vehicle accidents. Whether the cause of the collision is driver fatigue, improper truck maintenance, and/or improper screening, training and supervision of drivers, the Dallas truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson have the experience, resources and technical abilities to determine what happened and who should be held responsible.