Summary

On February 9, a U.S. District Court judge in Lynchburg, VA imposed an $18,000 fine on James E. Sanders, former president and co-owner of K&C Trucking Co., Inc. (K&C), Rustburg, VA, for his role in a scheme to falsify driver logbooks in order to conceal violations of FMCSA 'hours-of-service' regulations. Regulations governing the number of hours driven by truckers are designed to protect the public from trucking-related accidents caused by driver fatigue. Sanders pled guilty in March 2005 to making false statements and to conspiracy to defraud the government.

Sanders is the last person to be sentenced in this case. In January, former K&C co-owner, Norvell Preston, was fined $10,000 and sentenced to 30 days in jail. Former K&C dispatcher, David Martin, was fined $3,400; each had pled guilty on related charges. Seven former K&C tractor-trailer drivers were previously sentenced to home confinement or to fines ranging from $500 to $2,000 each. FMCSA assisted with this investigation.