FMCSA orders truck driver off the road for hit and run, alcohol violations, ignoring out-of-service order
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared a New Jersey truck driver to be an imminent hazard to public safety for alcohol violations and more.
On April 19, New Jersey CDL holder Gurpreet Singh was issued a federal order to immediately cease operating any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce.
FMCSA’s Imminent Hazard Out-of-Service Order states that Singh’s “blatant disregard for the safety of the motoring public demonstrated by these actions substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and the motoring public if not discontinued immediately.”
According to the FMCSA, on March 28, 2024, Singh rear-ended a passenger vehicle on Highway 10 in Washington County, Hillsboro, Oregon, then fled the scene. When he was later located, police found a bottle labeled “vodka” in the cab of his truck. Singh was then place out-of-service and charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol in Oregon.
“Nevertheless, Singh blatantly disregarded his out-of-service order and operated his CMV later that same day in Clackamas County, Oregon. After attempting to evade a sheriff’s deputy while operating his CMV, Singh was apprehended and found to be visibly impaired. Singh was arrested and testing showed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07%, well over the .04 threshold for a CMV driver,” the FMCSA said.
Authorities said that Singh was previously arrested on August 31, 2023, in Pinal, Arizona after he was observed driving erratically. A Preliminary Breath Test revealed a quick capture of .111%. He was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of operating a CMV while under the influence of alcohol in Arizona.
In addition to the federal order, Singh is listed as “prohibited” in the FMCSA’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. The FMCSA is working with New Jersey transportation officials to disqualify Singh’s CDL.