An Ohio trucking company was issued an out of service order last month after investigators noted 43 different safety violations. When it came time to shut them down, it was discovered that they had been evading two previous OOS orders by claiming to be out of business.
When a truck operated by Garfield Trucking was stopped for a roadside safety inspection, the officer noted a total of 43 different safety violations, 13 of which would have been suitable to put the vehicle or the driver out of service on their own.
According to the OOS order published by the FMCSA, the violations included falsified log books, 3 different brake issues, improper load securement, operating with suspended registration, and a host of other problems.
After the inspection it was discovered that Garfield Trucking was in violation of two previous Out Of Service orders, the first dating back to over a year ago and though additional inspections had been scheduled, they were never carried out. When investigators arrived at Garfield Trucking, they were greeted by a sign which said the carrier had gone out of business and so were unable to access the premises.
Investigators left a demand for access letter and a subpoena for the business owner and then mailed both as well, but never received a response.
According to the OOS order, “GARFIELD TRUCKING, LLC maintains a management philosophy that is adversarial to safe operations of commercial motor vehicles and compliance with federal motor carrier safety regulations.”
Because they allegedly ignored the two previous OOS orders, they are facing serious criminal penalties. Just one count of violating an OOS order can result in a fine of up to $25,000 and 1 year in prison.
Source: truckinginfo, fleetowner, fmcsa
David Norton says
Ohio has a big problem it protects companys from drivers and promotes this link of activities I had a major problem with a company f on Hamilton Ohio who I set up with the DOT in Florida to be caught and when he came to pu his truck he was arrested.
Jerry says
Garfield Trkg; the Officials didn’t gain access to inspect Company records..due to the Owner/Operator was out working his truck…over the road. (eh, I hope not.)
Intermodal says
Thanks to ######### like Garfield, we all have to deal with increase regulations, frequent inspections, and higher insurance premiums…which translates to higher costs to our shippers… and unemployment.
Juan Robledo says
Any way a criminal can operate will operate, it can be in Ohio today tomorrow in Cincinnati, or further east or west, if this company got over on the first 2 OOS, they will continue to do so at any cost, the owner or owners have no fear of reprisal from the feds, they away so far
Royce says
Some folks will kill people before they go bankrupt ,some wont. Chances are pretty good the owner is a maniac and lacks technical skill.
Almost all DOT offenses can be fixed by an owner who is determined enough.
I got a ton of information about truck repair from utube. I can’t think of anything I can’t put together on a truck at this point.
I also got tired of being flat broke all the d@mn time, but that’s a whole other issue.
If somebody gave me a truck, I would sell it to the highest bidder that brought cash and go get an actual job.
The insurance /licensing requirements are so expensive it’s just working to be working.
Sure, fuel is “cheap” right now, the market place is running out of suckers.
There is more money to be made driving other people’s trucks.
Unless you want to run a float. …..
I wonder how many divorces /broken families have been caused by semi trucks? I’m just guessing but I think it is probably a number approaching millions.
That little problem all by itself would be enough to derail the country. Trucking bites. It’s good for a little down money to go do something else with and that’s about it. It doesn’t even actually count for a job.It’s more of an obsession really.
Plumkrazee says
You actually have no clue.
Kelly says
Well, we’ve got armchair quarterbacks, and now it seems we have youtube ones also.
All your statements are your beliefs, mainly limiting, not useful, and not any facts to back them.
I’m just beginning my ninth year in trucking as a career and business owner, seven as an O/O. I just turnrd 54 and have had two other businesses. One I was successful at and one not. The successful one and the other few jobs I had in my life, pale in comparison to trucking.
I know there are guys doing much better and others doing worse than I. I’m able to generate mid 180k in revenue, and gross profit over 50k, after saving for retirement over 32k.
I took 4 weeks vacation this year also, am home 4 nights and 1.5 days a week now.
My father is retired, his female companion is a tenured professor at a state university. My salary and business profits are higher than her salary. Far more than an obsession. Yes, truking had expenses, as all businesses do. However, if there was no profit in it, it wouldn’t be done, would it.
Thank you for not wanting to be a fellow driver! Your current mentality makes you ignorant and dangerous.
Tow guy says
Amen
Kelly says
Oh, also happily married 18 years this month, together almost 23 years. I’ve got a friend still driving at 76, since 1967, and just celebrated 55 years of marriage.
Avi says
Honestly, nobody really cares.
Snowman says
So if someone gives you the tool to make the money, you’d rather sell it and make money one day, be broke the next, instead of using the tool to generate a lifetime of income. No wonder why you didn’t succed…Or maybe you never tried.
Tim says
I listened to this news on Road Dog. What I find unbelievable is that only 4% off truck companies even have a safety rating. I also use to haul cheap freight for two companies who, one of which kept getting OOS violations and not paying them. The system doesn’ t work unless we eliminate the crappy haulers.
Fred Falk says
I am now retired from 45 years otr truck driving. It has not been a good living but now a bad living. I was a o/o for 12 of those years.
Val Rasmussen says
In Minnesota I have reported to carriers, one for operating with no MC number even tho he needs one to haul fertilizer. The other is running with no DOT number and no insurance. Nothing has been done to either carrier. Guess the authorities don’t care.
Mansfield S.M. says
This will eventually happen to Pi&i motor express… They put trucks on the road everyday that’s knowingly unsafe. It’s a sad thing.