The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation, shut down a Louisiana trucking company Friday as a result of multiple safety violations. Gordon’s Tree Service was instructed to halt all transportation services immediately because of serious safety violations that pose an imminent hazard to public safety.
An investigation into the company found it continuing to operate vehicles in willful violation of a federal out-of-service order and in disregard of critical safety regulations, including using drivers who did not have commercial driver’s licenses. The company also used drivers who had not obtained medical certificates and were arrested for driving under the influence.
In November, the FMCSA reviewed the companies operations and found that it had failed to implement an alcohol and controlled substances programed, continued to use drivers who did not have CDLs, did not maintain an accident register and driver qualification files, and failed to keep records on vehicle maintenance and inspections or require drivers to prepare vehicle inspection reports.
Houston truck accident attorneys know that improper training and vehicle maintenance can be major factors in trucking accidents.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We are using every resource at our disposal to identify and remove unsafe bus companies from our roads.”
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