The FMCSA today announced it has revoked the operating authority of two Massachusetts-based passenger carriers, declaring the carriers “an imminent hazard to public safety.” The FMCSA says the carriers disregard for federal safety regulations put the company’s drivers, passengers and motoring public at risk.
In February 2014, FMCSA investigators conducted a compliance review of Crystal Transport, Inc., USDOT No. 334608 of Boston. FMCSA investigators discovered “serious violations” as well as a lack of compliance with previously identified regulations. The FMCSA gave Crystal Transport 30 days to demonstrate compliance with safety regulations, however, “Examples of continuing violations cited by FMCSA investigators included evidence that three drivers, all of whom had tested positive for controlled substances, had been allowed to transport passengers for most of 2013. In addition, falsified records-of-duty were discovered as was evidence of drivers being required or permitted to drive far in excess of hours-of-service restrictions.”
Crystal Transport allegedly failed to respond within the 30-day period. As a result, the FMCSA ordered Crystal Transport to stop orating in interstate commerce.
A copy of the Order revoking Operating Authority Registration is available here:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Signed_Crystal_Transport_FINAL.pdf
Also in February, the FMCSA investigators investigated Pandora Travel, Inc., USDOT No. 2046748, of Lawrence, and found “continued serious violations and non-compliance with previously identified federal safety regulations.” Investigators found numbers speeding and traffic violations incurred by Pandora drivers. Pandora was given 30 days to provide evidence that the carrier was working to company with safety regulations. The FMCSA says Pandora did respond but “failed to demonstrate compliance with federal safety regulations.”
On March 26, 2014, the FMCSA ordered Pandora to stop operating interstate commerce.
A copy of the Order revoking Operating Authority Registration is available here:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Signed_Pandora_Order_FINAL.pdf
“Safety is our highest priority and we will continue to demand that bus and truck companies fulfill their responsibility to ensure that dangerous vehicles and unsafe drivers are not permitted on our highways and roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Companies that fail in this responsibility will not be allowed to operate.”
This year, the FMCSA has revoked the operating authority of more than 75 carriers. A total of eight motor carriers and four commercial drivers have been declared to be imminent hazards to public safety.
“FMCSA inspectors and safety investigators across the nation are focused on protecting the motoring public from needless harm,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Our goal is to stop a preventable bus or truck crash from ever occurring.”