U.S. Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U.S.Department of Transportation
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Kansas Division Office
Topeka, Kansas
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
Contact: Teri Graham, State Director
Telephone: 785-267-7288

FMCSA Shuts Down "Unfit" Kansas-Based Motor Carrier

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued an Operations Out-of-Service Order (OOSO) to Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) (USDOT # 687007), located in St. John, Kansas. Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) transported freight in and around Kansas and the Midwestern United States using 2 drivers while utilizing 5 trucks. The Out-of-Service Order was issued due to the company violating several Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and failing to take follow-up corrective actions related to these violations. Specifically, the carrier failed to implement a random drug and/or alcohol testing program; failed to maintain driver qualification files; failed to maintain driver record checks; failed to require drivers to make records of duty status; and, failed to require drivers to prepare vehicle inspection reports.

The Out-of-Service Order, effective at 12:01 am CST on June 20, 2001, was hand delivered to Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking). It was issued after a compliance review of the trucking company's operations, conducted on April 13, 2001 by a safety investigator from the State of Kansas for the FMCSA's Kansas Division, determined that Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) was not complying with critical safety regulations. Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) was notified that its safety rating would be unsatisfactory and was given 60 days to bring its operations into compliance. Since Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) failed to do so, FMCSA determined it to be "unfit" to operate in interstate commerce and will prohibit Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) from doing so until it can demonstrate that it has corrected its safety problems.

Regarding the shutdown order, Doug Sawin, Midwestern Service Center's Field Administrator said, "This new enforcement standard allows us to focus on carriers who do not take compliance and safety efforts seriously. Our efforts to shut down "unfit" carriers should serve notice on those carriers and individuals who refuse to assume personal responsibility for their role in highway safety."

The FMCSA is dedicated to getting "unfit" trucking & passenger companies off the roads to protect the traveling public. Curtis W. Hutchison (dba C. Hutchison Trucking) was chosen for a compliance review because the FMCSA noted the companies high driver violation rate during roadside inspections and past poor compliance efforts.

Additional information about federal motor carrier safety regulations and the FMCSA's efforts to increase national motor carrier safety is on the Internet at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

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