A Washington State trucker has been placed out of service along with his trucking company after an investigation into the company revealed multiple safety violations – including one which was shockingly documented on social media by the driver himself.
Even Flo Logistics and driver Shawn Roberts have both been declared imminent hazards to public safety and placed out of service by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. This after Washington State Patrol officers conducted an investigation into the carrier after they realized that Roberts had been placed out-of-service multiple times recently in multiple states.
Here’s what the investigation found:
- Roberts was being placed out-of-service at rates over 13 times higher than the national average, including during 10 out of his last 12 inspections.
- Since January 2017, Roberts had been involved in at least four accidents.
- Roberts drove at least twice with only a CDL learner’s permit without a licensed CDL holder in the truck with him.
- After receiving an “Unsatisfactory” safety rating and being ordered to temporarily cease operations in October of 2017, Roberts continued driving.
- Roberts had been written up for driving under the influence of amphetamines and for possession of an intoxicating beverage.
- Roberts posted a photo on social media of a 12-year-old operating his truck
And finally:
- In July 2017, Roberts reportedly posted a photo on social media of his gas pedal being held down by a clamp. It was captioned with “When your cruise control brakes [sic] the fix.”
According to the FMCSA, Even Flo Logistics and Roberts himself face some steep fines. From their report:
Even Flo logistics may be assessed civil penalties of up to $26,126 for each violation of the out-of-service order. The carrier may also be assessed civil penalties of not less than $10,000 for providing transportation requiring federal operating authority registration and up to $14,739 for operating a commercial vehicle in interstate commerce without necessary USDOT registration. If violations are determined to be willful, criminal penalties may be imposed, including a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment for a term not to exceed one year.
Separately, Roberts may be assessed civil penalties of up to $1,811 for each violation of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of the imminent hazard order. Knowing and/or willful violation of the order may also result in criminal penalties.
Source: overdrive, DOT, truckingindustry, prnewswire
From the “findings” it is evident Mr Roberts has gotten behind the wheel 3 times “at minimum” when he had no legal right to do so. This, on top of everything else, means its only a matter of time before this boy finally kills somebody.
Sanctions need to include a personal penalty strong enough to convince Mr Roberts that his illegal presence behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle is no longer worth the risk. Sometimes only jail, and lots of it, works for chronically slow learners.
Placed out of service multiple times, 4 accidents within a year, drives on a learners permit and not an actual CDL…… how the hell did he even get the job with that company?? It got me scratching my head on this one!!
Well as you can read, the company does not sound like they follow the law. So they have to hire idiots like this.
Just like people who own and run these companies will never do jail time.our legal system and goverment is as corrupt as a 3rd world country.
I remember seeing the video of his son driving. I thought then he was a dam fool, just didn’t realize how much of a fool. Smh
I agree. Im retired now thank the LORD. I’ve been driving a truck almost 50 years, having started out in a coal bucket in the mountains of West Virginia, Kentucky, an all states where coal mining is done. Ive driven in every type of trucking environment possible an I have been in every state in the continental USA. I dont understand why this character isnt behind bars for many years.
There are certainly some real knuckleheads out there.
All those fines sound serious until you read about how the execs at Beam Trucking were charged with 125 felonies and got it all dropped by agreeing to plead guilty to a misdemeanor.
He needs to change his job title from driver to executive. The he’ll walk. Ha!
Good point. Guess Roberts needs to get himself one of them damn fangled attorneys.
Stupid is as stupid does …
When I read four accidents in a short amount of time I thought maybe work for Swift.
The 12 year can probably drive as good as some of these drivers I dodge everyday
I hear you driver. A large number of these steering wheel holders arr pathetic.
All I can come up with on this one is just WTF?
Hope he doesn’t get the prosecutor and judge the Beam Bros got. They will apparently give you a little slap on rear end and tell you that you’ve been a bad boy and then send you home.
How did he get insurance on his truck and who would give him a load without it?
Never heard of a learners permit for a truck, especially one that lasted for years.
Most states require a learners permit when attending driving school. When I was an instructor, the school paid for a lot of the permits with ALL endorsements.
Maybe he shoulda let that 12yr old drive more.
#MAGA,,,
But unlike the Beam Brothers, accuses of defrauding the government and charged with 126 felonies, this company and its errant driver will get crucified. Smh
All I can say is thank God they caught up with him (won’t even call him a driver) and that company before he kill one of us drivers or someone else.
How do we know he didn’t kill someone and just keep driving?
Retiring this Feb. This is what an ungrateful public gets to replace me.
How does it ever get that far, under the influence and booze in the truck?
The most unfortunate part of this is his face is what the people on the social media page sees when they look up at the men/women behind the wheel of a CMV. I’ve done this a long time and I’m now in the safety department of an up and coming company. Please know that when you get behind the wheel, you represent the past and future of the industry… so please represent it with safety, dignity, and pride. Thanks to all of you, and happy holidays.
Bandit, I agree, I’ve worked on both sides ( driving and safety) I’ll take the safety these days before anything.
Look the goverment we have is evil,corrupt,so is our legal system.trucking company executives get charged with 126 felonies,steal millions,get no jail time.does any thing really shock anyone any more?Even truckers who park on ramps on the exit side are not bright.so the car slowing down to exit has to avoid them to.that guy is in the same league as those truckers.park on the re entry side when they have to speed up,goes there going slow where its safe for every one.
clamps? i have 2×4 I wedge under the steering wheel- will have to try his method.
if he does this in a semi- I shudder to think what he does in his personal vehicle
Barred for life in a CDL. 15 yrs in the pokey. Maybe then he will get his priorities straight. But the bleeding heart liberal state of Washington says it’s not his fault he is a scofflaw drug addict.
Nothing new though. Back in the 70s we had a dirt bag driver come out of the bar, drive on the sidewalk and kill a pedestrian. One year later…Back in the truck ??
Money talks !