The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced a set of proposed new rules that would give the agency more authority to penalize commercial truck and bus companies that showed a pattern of safety violations.
The proposed rules would give the FMCSA the authority to suspend or revoke the operating authority of any commercial carrier that was found to have engaged in “a pattern or practice of avoiding regulatory compliance or masking noncompliance.” This would include “chameleon carriers,” who respond to orders to fix safety violations by closing the company and reopening it under another name and Department of Transportation (DOT) number, instead of by fixing the problems.
“Chameleon carriers” have been responsible for a number of serious truck accident injuries in the U.S. in recent years, according to the background the FMCSA provided with the proposed rule. The new rule would strengthen FMCSA’s abilities to put chameleon carriers out of business once and for all, instead of allowing them to continue to skirt the rules and put others on the road at risk.
The proposed rules appeared in the November 13, 2012 edition of the Federal Register. The FMCSA is accepting public comments on the rules until January 14, 2013.
Truck accidents can cause serious injuries, and a trucking company that commits multiple safety violations puts both its own drivers and everyone who shares the road with them at risk. If you’ve been injured in a truck crash, don’t wait to call a truck accident attorney at Page Law today. Our number is (314) 322-8515, and your initial telephone consultation is free and confidential.
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