The Tazewell, Tennessee based Hatfield Trucking has been shut down by the FMCSA after being cited as an imminent safety hazard last month. The out-of-service order follows a serious accident caused by company owner Ricky L. Hatfield who was driving while under the influence of alcohol.
According to the FMCSA order, the accident occurred November of last year in Franklin County, PA, when Hatfield was traveling northbound on 81 while inebriated. His truck crossed onto the shoulder of the highway where it collided with a parked vehicle. After the initial collision, Hatfield continued driving and struck and severely injured two pedestrians who were standing outside their vehicles on the highway shoulder. Hatfield’s truck then hit a dump truck before finally overturning across the northbound lanes.
After his truck overturned, Hatfield climbed out of his vehicle and fled the scene. He was later found hiding from authorities behind a nearby building. When a sobriety test was administered, he had a blood alcohol level of .171.
This latest incident as well as a previous DUI issued to Hatfield in 2009 prompted the FMCSA to claim that Hatfield “shows a general disregard for motor vehicle law and a pattern of endangering public safety.”
The out of service order issued by the FMCSA applies not only to Hatfield, but also to all other vehicles owned and operated by Hatfield Trucking.
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Source: therecordherald, fmcsa, fleetowner
Way to go, Ricky. This’ll help our public image intensely.
Sure it will.
Its about time some of the “good old boys” get off the road for good. I can still remember years ago picking up in the South when a couple local guys came in backed into a dock and proceeded to pull out a case of beer and sit and drink it. In about a hour and half my trailer was loaded and those boys were also loaded in more ways then just freight. America certainly has a alcoholic problem but for some reason we have more concern for tired truck drivers then ones that use alcohol or drugs. I’ll drive along a tired truck driver long before a drunk one.
Your kidding me with this right??? To say that all the “old school” drivers have a drinking problem I think your brain has a problem. I know plenty of the “good ol boys” who can out drive most of these youngsters completely sober. They have Amazing thing called “work ethics.” They do what they have to get the job done but know their limits as well.
You my friend are what we call a cry baby.
Thank you,I’m a “Good ole boy”and I don’t DRINK do DRUGS or SMOKE.
I’m a “Good ole Gal” Would say I have the good ole work ethics
Sure, they can outdrivie anybody if they’re cheating on the logbook.
Not sure where the ethic is in that.
Well seeing how the “log book ” is a huge farce and joke..well yea/
Doesn’t matter whet you call it, it’s still the law. And it’s not that unreasonable to follow it.
Alex, I bet you’re so professional that you don’t blink your “thank you” lights after passing another truck as the fmcsa teaches you boys in driving school…. There are a lot of us out here that where driving when you were not even a thought in your mothers mind. Government regulations is not what makes it safe. Professional drivers who know when to pull over and take a nap do, yet the safety board has all you young lads brain washed that they know best and control your every move… Thank God I will be retiring soon….
Right on!!
I was’t aware the article was about logbooks, I read something about DUI which I thought was illegal in all motor vehicles.
Well what it all boils down too, as with everything….A few bad people spoil it for the rest of us. Most of us follow the rules, a few don’t. And then all of us good people get new rules and regulations put on us. Interesting thought….maybe this guy should be put in a stock like in the old days for all to throw shit at.
Shaina- he didn’t say ALL good ol boys have a drinking problem and it has nothing to do with work ethic. If you NEED? to drink,or drug to do the job wether it’s driving a truck or a desk it’s time to do something else! Sadly many drivers do lack the self respect & pride that made trucking great, without that there is no respect for other people and laws that try to keep everyone safe. (I am a retired old gal 24 years over the road as O/O drove 48 states and did the best I could) yeah I did fudge my logs some but didn’t whine if caught. Hey- Hats off to an alert lady weight inspector in Moorhead MN! Caught a real dirt bag who had kidnapped a woman and had her in his semi for months- let’s see a story on that.
Yes I agree with the tired driver but not the so tired driver that’s falling asleep at the wheel its just about the same thing just no alcohol. And people let not point fingers at just the “good ole boys” the problem is in all of America. But I’m glad to see that the fmcsa is finally doing something productive than hendering the trucking industry.
YES the real reason for tired drivers is a one size fits all government approach that never worked and NEVER WILL! STOP REGULATING WHEN DRIVERS SLEEP! LET’EM SLEEP WHEN THEY ARE TIRED! Like change the rules to 11hrs of driving in 24hr period & let the driver rest when HE’S tired & DRIVE when he’s AWAKE!!
AMEN brother
Now wait a minu let be fair. First it has no effect on whether a driver been driving one week or thirdty years. If you drink alcohol and drive a eighteen wheeler you should be punished Same as any illegal drugs. As for the good o’boys. I do not see that. I hav e been driving forI twenty years and my csa score is zero and I have always run long haul. Twelve year run team eight solo. I been to Hunts Point,Ny,Boston market by my self and I am a lady.driver.I raised my two sons on the road. What I have problems. With are some male driver who pull of the side of a get of ramp open the driver side door and stand on their steep and whip it out to pass. How many children do you think want see that. I was told the other day I a strange driver because I use an altus not gps. I can remember when you could and stop you fellow driver. Can’t now you be shot. I also now I learn something new everyday about trucking. And safety. I know the day I stop learning will be the day I die
Do you really know what a good ole boy is. I have worked with somw real good ole boys in my day. They weren’t drunks as you suggest. These boy will stop and give you a hand and leave their thermos of coffee for you while you wait for an tow truck.
I have 43 years on the road and have never seen a driver, good old boy or ma am trained truck driver open a case of beer on a shipping dock.
I think, years ago, there was probably a bit more of this going on than there is today. But, yeah, I too will take a tired trucker over a drunk one. There’s this other thing about those who might drink and drive that’s a bit different, maybe, from the driver who’s maybe a bit tired. The guy, or gal, who drinks and drives is showing a flagrant disregard for others on the road. If they kill themselves, that’s one thing, but these a$$hats seem to have this way of killing others but then walking away from their crashes, themselves. I also put tailgaters and drivers who cut off others in the same category as drunks.
There should be no need for tired drivers, either. Dispatchers who don’t have any clue need to be kept in check.
A new dispatcher once told me I had to accept a load or I would be fired. I took the load move it to the nearest Truck stop..Took my 10 hours off and arrived 10 hours late.
I got my ass chewed out and was told I was fired. Told the dispatcher I was following company rules and motor carrier rules She lasted with the company about 6 weeks.
This is the kind of trash we all have you be around today. you never know if the next so called driver is drunk or stoned or what???? I hope they never let this guy behind a truck again.
time he goes to walmart to work since he had no sense or care in the world for us or other people, just plain stupid !!!!!
I’m sure cases like this are rare to say the least, at least statistically that is, I mean most of the time drivers are being screwed by the law and that’s just the reality of it unfortunately. A friend of mine went off duty at the end of the day parked his truck and went into a restaurant to get dinner, well he had a beer maybe 2 and then went back to his truck were he was informed that he would have to move his truck, he reluctantly moved his truck state trooper got him impounded his truck, company fired him and he is no longer driving trucks and never will again. Of course it was for the best because his wife and kid’s were being neglected to say the least, he was one of those that would stay out for months running hard, but none the less that ain’t right what that black and white did I don’t care how you stretch it.
Illegal aliens have it better than over-the-road drivers.
The sad truth is that fatigue (at the 20+ hours of wakefulness level) affects the body much the same as alcohol does related to judgement, perception, information processing speed, and ability to make split second decisions. And the 800 pound gorilla in the room is that the professions most needing those abilities (doctor, nurse, truck driver and yes, even cop) are often awake and working a lot longer than 20 hours. The 20 minute catnap is a decent offset, but not perfect solution. Be safe, drivers!
My concern is that the system failed to remove this persons ability to drive a commercial vehicle back in 2009 with his first DUI
Well Im one of those good ol boys who has been out here for 28yrs and have never driven drunk or do any drugs and on my worst day I can run circles around most of the new breed of drivers out here today. With there flip flops and there butts hanging out of there pants don’t give a crap thug attitudes. Not to mention that most can’t even backup while looking in there mirrors can’t park between the lines have to be watched over like babies by there dispatcher all the time and be treated like a child. If nothing more you should thank use good ol boys because with out use you wouldn’t have your fancy e logs to tell you how long you can drive when to take a break when to go to bed when to both to work because most of you are stupid to do it on your on like us good ol boys do……
AMEN TO THAT! whizkid.
been reading some of comments. I see the “proper” comments about driving While impaired.
Has anyone noticed that they SHUT down the whole company because of a driver???
Owner or not, I dont get it. Are ALL the drivers in that company drunks?
I know this is a little different “take” on this article. Methinks it was wholly unfair.
Thats some power this agency has. Just makes me wonder.
It could be possible that the company was a one driver company.
He deserves to be offthe roaf i just feel sorry for all the employees tht worked for him and now are out of a job due to his blatant disregard and selfish ways its just said this will continue to make it harder for those who do follow the rules
The feds should never allow this drunk to drive…even a tricycle…ever. Banned for life. this is felony stupidity.
Worked for a U. S. Mail contractor in Denver who regularly had card games in the shop, most every afternoon…real tough guy, who also allowed his clique of trained monkies to drink hard liquor on the premises, then take trailers to the Bulk Mail Center.
Brian Hicks??????
Trojan Horse
Capitol Expressways
Glen Burnie Trucking
Great. Put all of his drivers out of work because the owner is a douche. ..
So this good ol boy here has been at it right at 30 yrs don’t drink in drive for god sake y’all gotta family to look after now this nuckle head lock him up throw away the key we have been paying for there mistakes far to long this is what give us old outlaws a bad name
There I’ve said my piece y’all keep the rubber on the road , left door closed , right foot down
Hammer Down and for god sake be safe and use your dam brains !!!
Im so sick of these drivers, the ones who dont obey the laws, The one who has 4 different log books, who drives 14 to 17 hrs a day, so tired that they are a danger to the public..the ones who drink, and the ones who abuse drugs..
OMG. Dad was right. The great American Truckdriver, the greatest labor movement that never was. We can’t even get together on this issue without arguing! Glad I can see retirement on the horizon.
I guess you could say I am one of those “good old boys and gals”,,I have been driving for a little over 18 years I have never drank and drove behind the wheels don’t even touch alcohol if I’m attaching the truck at all ever. I don’t believe it’s fair that the other drivers of that company should have been punished along with the owner but I think it’s because it was the owner that was caught drinking and driving that the company itself was shut down. The new breed a driver that’s coming out here today needs a lot more patience and understanding of how trucking is supposed to be. We have lost our camaraderie, our family values, the need or want to help others out here on the road. when I first started driving it was nothing to see two or three trucks on the side of the road trying to help another one get going again. Or you could hop on the radio and ask for directions to your customer if you couldn’t find it or get ahold of the customer directly. Now you hop on the radio and the first thing your told is to go blank yourself.I think what is wrong out here now is that everybody’s out for themselves in a time that we really need to be sticking together we’re falling apart. We are the only industry where we are not allowed to strike as a whole unit but even if we could we wouldn’t because we don’t stick together at all. It was a shame that the company itself was shut down because of the owners stupidity and total lack of reguard for others safety. It is true the drunk driver is less likely to hurt himself or herself in an accident and more likely to kill the person or persons that they hit but whether you’re drunk driving or fatigue driving you’re still a danger on the road. I Drive legal, I take my breaks and I can still drive circles aRound most of the youngsters out here today wether you have E logs or paper logs it shouldn’t matter ,safety should come first always.
Wow! I thought those Bravo Pseudo reality shows were bad. True “Good Ole Boys or Gals” shouldn’t have to defend their honor in this forum or any other venue. You know your worth. As for the brilliant Mr. Hatfield one has to question the sanity of any driver who can deliver that amount of mayhem.
I am a young driver but I was raised by the old school and wish things would go back 2 the old days