driver made mistake in log book! 3 times!!!

Sorry I had to go run errands, just getting back to my computer! No, we are not a new carrier, we have been in business since 1979. I got another fine because I was one drug screen short in the "random" drug screens. I had 4 and they wanted 5! All of our drivers tested clean! All maintenance records were provided, employee files. I thought I had everything! We have a clean record and most of our drivers have been with us for 15 plus years. We haul local but this one truck travels less than 300 miles a few times a week from our shop. The total fines are 16,570.00! There is no way we can pay that. The actual fine says "violation 393.3(a)(3)(ii) assessment per count 4146.00 total 12,438.00 and the other fine reads "violation 382.305(b) 4132.00 assessment per count and i had 1 total of that one is 4132.00 the combined total is 16,570.00 it says on the claim that section 222 was not applied, whatever that means? It is all we can do to keep up with the fuel and labor each week, not to mention tires and repairs. My husband is about ready to just retire and give it all up.

 

can I post a picture of the paper on here?

 

It does say it is based on GROSS income which is a far cry from bottom line....just saying and I was extremely courteous to the the investigator, I honestly thought it was good until I opened the fine! Most of the drivers don't have to log because we haul so close but they do keep a drivers time record which shows their hours worked per week and daily inspections for the units they drive. I check those weekly when I do payroll. The other guy started with us about 18 months ago and he was a previous owner/operator so it is my fault for not keeping closer tabs on his paperwork but I felt like he knew what he was doing because he only quit his own business because he was going through a divorce and his ex wife made him sell his rig to settle up with her (i don't have anything good to say about that) He is a really good responsible guy and if he overlooked something, its simply because he was unaware, it wasn't intentional. He doesn't run more than 2 hours to get to his destination, i "thought" that was more for guys who runs cross country or something...I realize ignorance is no excuse and I take full responsibility for not checking his paperwork closer but the amount of the fine is my main problem here. I feel like it is extreme and I am contacting an attorney thanks for your help. I will let you know how it turns out.
Sincerely,
Denise

 

View attachment 69917
this is a screen shot of the fines