Truckers who violate federal regulations will pay more after officials announced the annual increase in financial penalties in order to keep up with inflation.
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 2015 requires all federal agencies, including the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, to increase fine amounts every year to account for inflation in order to “maintain their deterrent effect.”
The new fines will be effective immediately upon publication in the Federal Register on December 30.
You can see the tables below to view the new civil penalty amounts.
Description
Citation
Existing Penalty
New Penalty (Existing Penalty x 1.02598)
Appendix A IV (a) Out- of-service order (operation of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by driver)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(7)
$2,304
$2,364
Appendix A IV (b) Out- of-service order (requiring or permitting operation of CMV by driver)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(7)
$23,048
$23,647
Appendix A IV (c) Out- of-service order (operation by driver of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out of service)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(7)
$2,304
$2,364
Appendix A IV (d) Out- of-service order (requiring or permitting operation of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out of service)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(7)
$23,048
$23,647
Appendix A IV (e) Out- of-service order (failure to return written certification of correction)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(B)
$1,152
$1,182
Appendix A IV (g) Out- of-service order (failure to cease operations as ordered)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(F)
$33,252
$34,116
Appendix A IV (h) Out- of-service order (operating in violation of order)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(7)
$29,221
$29,980
Appendix A IV (i) Out- of-service order (conducting operations during suspension or revocation for failure to pay penalties)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(A) and (b)(7)
$18,759
$19,246
Appendix B (b)(2) Employer violations pertaining to knowingly allowing, authorizing employee violations of out-of-service order (maximum penalty)
49 U.S.C. 31310(i)(2)(C)
$38,612
$39,615
Appendix B (b)(3) Special penalties pertaining to railroad- highway grade crossing violations
49 U.S.C. 31310(j)(2)(B)
$20,017
$20,537
Appendix B (d) Financial responsibility violations
49 U.S.C. 31138(d)(1), 31139(g)(1)
$20,579
$21,114
Appendix B (e)(1) Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (transportation or shipment of hazardous materials)
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)
$99,756
$102,348
Appendix B (e)(2) Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (training)–minimum penalty
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(3)
$601
$617
Appendix B (e)(2): Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (training)–maximum penalty
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)
$99,756
$102,348
Appendix B (e)(3) Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (packaging or container)
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)
$99,756
$102,348
Appendix B (e)(4): Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (compliance with FMCSRs)
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)
$99,756
$102,348
Appendix B (e)(5) Violations of Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMRs) and Safety Permitting Regulations (death, serious illness, severe injury to persons; destruction of property)
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(2)
$232,762
$238,809
Appendix B (f)(1) Operating after being declared unfit by assignment of a final “unsatisfactory” safety rating (generally)
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(F)
$33,252
$34,116
Appendix B (f)(2) Operating after being declared unfit by assignment of a final “unsatisfactory” safety rating (hazardous materials)-maximum penalty
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)
$99,756
$102,348
Appendix B (f)(2): 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
49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(2)
$232,762
$238,809
Appendix B (g)(1): Violations of the commercial regulations (CRs) (property carriers)
49 U.S.C. 14901(a)
$13,300
$13,676
Appendix B (g)(2) Violations of the CRs (brokers)
49 U.S.C. 14916(c)
$13,300
$13,676
Appendix B (g)(3) Violations of the CRs (passenger carriers)
49 U.S.C. 14901(a)
$33,252
$34,116
Appendix B (g)(4) Violations of the CRs (foreign motor carriers, foreign motor private carriers)
49 U.S.C. 14901(a)
$13,300
$13,676
Appendix B (g)(5) Violations of the operating authority requirement (foreign motor carriers, foreign motor private carriers)- maximum penalty for intentional violation
49 U.S.C. 14901 note
$18,291
$18,766
Appendix B (g)(5) Violations of the operating authority requirement (foreign motor carriers, foreign motor private carriers)- maximum penalty for a pattern of intentional violations
49 U.S.C. 14901 note
$45,730
$46,918
Appendix B (g)(6) Violations of the CRs (motor carrier or broker for transportation of hazardous wastes)- minimum penalty
49 U.S.C. 14901(b)
$26,602
$27,293
Appendix B (g)(6) Violations of the CRs (motor carrier or broker for transportation of hazardous wastes)- maximum penalty
49 U.S.C. 14901(b)
$53,203
$54,585
Appendix B (g)(7): Violations of the CRs (household goods (HHG) carrier or freight forwarder, or their receiver or trustee)
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(1)
$2,000
$2,052
Appendix B (g)(8) Violation of the CRs (weight of HHG shipment, charging for services)-minimum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 14901(e)
$4,005
$4,109
Appendix B (g)(8) Violation of the CRs (weight of HHG shipment, charging for services)-minimum penalty for subsequent violation
Appendix B (g)(11) Additional tariff violations (rebates or concessions)–first violation
49 U.S.C. 14904(a)
$400
$410
Appendix B (g)(11) Additional tariff violations (rebates or concessions)– subsequent violations
49 U.S.C. 14904(a)
$500
$513
Appendix B (g)(12): Tariff violations (freight forwarders)–maximum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1)
$1,002
$1,028
Appendix B (g)(12): Tariff violations (freight forwarders)–maximum penalty for subsequent violations
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(1)
$4,005
$4,109
Appendix B (g)(13): service from freight forwarder at less than rate in effect–maximum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2)
$1,002
$1,028
Appendix B (g)(13): service from freight forwarder at less than rate in effect–maximum penalty for subsequent violation(s)
49 U.S.C. 14904(b)(2)
$4,005
$4,109
Appendix B (g)(14): Violations related to loading and unloading motor vehicles
49 U.S.C. 14905
$20,017
$20,537
Appendix B (g)(16): Reporting and recordkeeping under 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV, part B (except 13901 and 13902(c))–minimum penalty
49 U.S.C. 14901
$1,330
$1,365
Appendix B (g)(16): Reporting and recordkeeping under 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV, part B–maximum penalty
49 U.S.C. 14907
$10,009
$10,269
Appendix B (g)(17): Unauthorized disclosure of information
49 U.S.C. 14908
$4,005
$4,109
Appendix B (g)(18): Violation of 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV, part B, or condition of registration
49 U.S.C. 14910
$1,002
$1,028
Appendix B (g)(21)(i): Knowingly and willfully fails to deliver or unload HHG at destination
49 U.S.C. 14915
$20,017
$20,537
Appendix B (g)(22): HHG broker estimate before entering into an agreement with a motor carrier
49 U.S.C. 14901(d)(2)
$15,445
$15,846
Appendix B (g)(23): HHG transportation or broker services– registration requirement
49 U.S.C. 14901 (d)(3)
$38,612
$39,615
Appendix B (h): Copying of records and access to equipment, lands, and buildings– maximum penalty per day
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(E)
$1,544
$1,584
Appendix B (h): Copying of records and access to equipment, lands, and buildings– maximum total penalty
49 U.S.C. 521(b)(2)(E)
$15,445
$15,846
Appendix B (i)(1): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. ch. 5, 51, subchapter III of ch. 311 (except 31138 and 31139), 31302-31304, 31305(b), 31310(g)(1)(A), or 31502–minimum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 524
$2,661
$2,730
Appendix B (i)(1): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. ch. 5, 51, subchapter III of ch. 311 (except 31138 and 31139), 31302-31304, 31305(b), 31310(g)(1)(A), or 31502–maximum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 524
$6,650
$6,823
Appendix B (i)(1): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. ch. 5, 51, subchapter III of ch. 311 (except 31138 and 31139), 31302-31304, 31305(b), 31310(g)(1)(A), or 31502–minimum penalty for subsequent violation(s)
49 U.S.C. 524
$3,323
$3,409
Appendix B (i)(1): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. ch. 5, 51, subchapter III of ch. 311 (except 31138 and 31139), 31302-31304, 31305(b), 31310(g)(1)(A), or 31502–maximum penalty for subsequent violation(s)
49 U.S.C. 524
$9,965
$10,224
Appendix B (i)(2): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV, part B–minimum penalty for first violation
49 U.S.C. 14906
$2,661
$2,730
Appendix B (i)(2): Evasion of regulations under 49 U.S.C. subtitle IV, part B–minimum penalty for subsequent violation(s)
