The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has increased the fine amount for trucking violations to reflect inflation.
The May 3, 2021, increase marks the second time in 2021 that the FMCSA has increased the fine amount for regulation violations.
Per the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015, federal agencies must increase fines each year to account for inflation. However, the 2020 increase didn’t go into effect until January 2021.
The new fine amounts are effective immediately. You can view them below.
FMCSA Regulation Violation Fine Table
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Failure to respond to Agency subpoena to appear and testify or produce records (minimum)
$1,112
$1,125
Failure to respond to Agency subpoena to appear and testify or produce records (maximum)
$11,125
$11,256
Out-of-service order: Operation of CMV by driver
$1,928
$1,951
Out-of-service order: Requiring or permitting operation of CMV by driver
$19,277
$19,505
Out-of-service order: Operation by driver of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out-of- service
$1,928
$1,951
Out-of-service order: Requiring or permitting operation of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out-of-service
$19,277
$19,505
Out-of-service order: Failure to return written certification of correction
$964
$975
Out-of-service order: Failure to cease operations as ordered
$27,813
$28,142
Out-of-service order: Operating in violation of order
$24,441
$24,730
Out-of-service order: Conducting operations during suspension or revocation for failure to pay penalties
$15,691
$15,876
Out-of-service order: Conducting operations during suspension or revocation
$24,441
$24,730
Recordkeeping: Maximum penalty per day
$1,292
$1,307
Recordkeeping: Maximum total penalty
$12,919
$13,072
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Knowing falsification of records
$12,919
$13,072
Non-recordkeeping violations
$15,691
$15,876)
Non-recordkeeping violations by drivers
$3,923
$3,969
Alcohol prohibition violations (first offense)
$3,230
$3,268
Alcohol prohibition violations (second or subsequent conviction)
$6,460
$6,536
Commercial driver’s license violations
$5,833
$5,902
Special penalties pertaining to violation of OOS orders (first conviction)
$3,230
$3,268
Special penalties pertaining to violation of OOS orders (second or subsequent conviction)
$6,460
$6,536
Knowingly allowing, authorizing employee violations of OOS order (minimum)
$5,833
$5,902
Knowingly allowing, authorizing employee violations of OOS order (maximum)
$32,297
$32,679
Special penalties pertaining to railroad-highway grade crossing violations
$16,743
$16,941
Financial responsibility violations
$17,213
$17,416
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (transportation or shipment of hazmat)
$83,439
$84,425
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (training) (minimum penalty)
$502
$508
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (training) (maximum penalty)
$83,439
$84,425
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (packaging or container
$83,439
$84,425
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (compliance with FMCSRs)
$83,439
$84,425
Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations and Safety Permitting Regulations (death, serious illness, severe injury to persons; destruction of property)
$194,691
$196,992
Operating after being declared unfit by assignment of a final “unsatisfactory” safety rating (generally)
$27,813
$28,142
Operating after being declared unfit by assignment of a final “unsatisfactory” safety rating (hazmat maximum penalty)
$83,439
$84,425
Operating after being declared unfit by assignment of a final “unsatisfactory” safety rating – hazardous materials (maximum penalty if death, serious illness, severe injury to persons; destruction of property)
$194,691
$196,992
Violations of the commercial regulations, property carriers
$11,125
$11,256
Violations of the CRs, brokers
$11,125
$11,256
Violations of the CRs, passenger carriers
$27,813
$28,142
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Violation of the CRs, foreign carriers, foreign motor private carriers
$11,125
$11,256
Violations of the CRs, foreign motor carriers, foreign motor private carriers before implementation of North American Free Trade Agreement land transportation provisions (maximum penalty for intentional violation)
$15,299
$15,480
Violations of the CRs, foreign motor carriers, foreign motor private carriers before implementation of North American Free Trade Agreement land transportation provisions (maximum penalty for a pattern of intentional violations)
$38,250
$38,702
Violations of the CRs, motor carrier or broker for transportation of hazardous wastes (minimum)
$22,251
$22,514
Violations of the CRs, motor carrier or broker for transportation of hazardous wastes (maximum)
$44,501
$45,027
Violation of the CRs, household goods carrier or freight forwarder, or their receiver or trustee
$1,673
$1,693
Violation of the CRs, weight of HHG shipment, charging for services (minimum for first violation)
$3,349
$3,389
Violation of the CRs, weight of HHG shipment, charging for services (subsequent violations)
$8,372
$8,471
Tariff violations
$167,433
$169,412
Additional tariff violations, rebates or concessions (first violation)
$334
$338
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Additional tariff violations, rebates or concessions (subsequent violations)
$418
$423
Tariff violations, freight forwarders (max penalty for first violation)
$838
$848
Tariff violations, freight forwarders (max penalty for subsequent violations)
$3,349
$3,389
Service from freight forwarders at less than rate in effect (first violation)
$838
$848
Service from freight forwarders at less than rate in effect (subsequent violations )
$3,349
$3,389
Loading, unloading violations
$16,743
$16,941
Reporting and recordkeeping – min penalty
$1,112
$1,125
Reporting and recordkeeping – max penalty
$8,372
$8,471
Unauthorized disclosure of information
$3,349
$3,389
Violation of registration conditions
$838
$848
Knowingly and willingly fails to deliver or unload HHG
$16,743
$16,941
HHG broker estimate before entering into agreement with motor carrier
$12,919
$13,072
HHG transportation or broker services – registration requirement
$32,297
$32,679
Copying of records and access to equipment, lands and buildings (max penalty per day)
$1,292
$1,307
Copying of records and access to equipment, lands and buildings (max total penalty)
$12,919
$13,072
Violation
Former penalty value
New penalty value
Evasion of motor carrier regulations (minimum for first violation)
$2,226
$2,252
Evasion of motor carrier regulations (maximum for first violation)
$5,562
$5,628
Evasion of motor carrier regulations (minimum for subsequent violations)
$2,780
$2,813
Evasion of motor carrier regulations (maximum for subsequent)
$8,344
$8,443
Evasion of carrier or broker regulations (minimum for first violation)
$2,226
$2,252
Evasion of carrier or broker regulations (minimum for subsequent)
