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FMCSA Fines Michigan-Based Motor Carrier $150,000 for Violating Hours-of-Service Regulations

17 January 2001

FMCSA Fines Michigan-Based Motor Carrier $150,000 for Violating Hours-of-Service Regulations

    WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 The U.S. Department of
Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today
announced that Rush Trucking Corporation of Wayne, Mich., a for-hire motor
carrier that primarily hauls general freight and auto parts, was fined
$150,000 for multiple violations of the federal hours-of-service safety
regulations.
    The violations were discovered during an investigation conducted by
FMCSA's Michigan division office.
    During a June 2000 safety compliance review, Rush Trucking was cited for
285 counts of falsifying its records of duty status, including efforts to
conceal violations of the 70-hour rule, which limits drivers to 70 hours of
work/drive time within eight consecutive days, and violations of the 10-hour
rule, which limits drivers to 10 hours maximum driving followed by 8
consecutive hours of rest.  The company reportedly employs approximately 750
drivers and an equal number of trucks.
    Drivers are required to comply with a federal hours-of-service regulation
that stipulates they must 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, and require that drivers not drive after being on
duty for more than 70 hours in eight consecutive days.
    Additional information about federal motor carrier safety regulations and
the FMCSA's efforts to increase national motor carrier safety is on the
Internet at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov .