FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FMCSA 21-00
Thursday, November 9, 2000
Contact: David Longo
Tel: (202) 366-0456
FMCSA Fines Michigan-Based Motor Carrier $185,770 for Violating
Hours-of-Service Regulation
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) today announced that ETV, Inc., of Coopersville, Mich., a
for-hire motor carrier that primarily hauls produce and furniture, was fined
$185,770 for multiple violations of the federal hours-of-service safety
regulation.
The violations were discovered during a recent investigation conducted by
FMCSA's Michigan division office.
"We will hold motor carriers to the highest standards when it comes to
their safety performance on America's roads and highways," FMCSA Acting
Deputy Administrator Clyde J. Hart Jr. said. "Fatigue is too often the
cause of commercial motor vehicle crashes, and this strong enforcement action
demonstrates the seriousness of the offense. We will hold accountable those who
allow potentially sleepy truck or bus drivers to threaten the safety of innocent
motorists sharing the road."
ETV was cited for more than 300 counts of violating the regulation by
requiring or permitting a driver to drive after having been on duty more than 70
hours in 8 consecutive days and for 60 counts of having false records of duty
status. The company employs 238 drivers and operates 187 power units.
Drivers are required to comply with a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation
on hours of service and to maintain accurate logs of their driving and on-duty
activities. Regulations permit drivers to be behind the wheel for 10 hours and
then require rest for 8.
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