MAY 15, 2018 – A recent review of the FMCSA’s Summary of Closed Enforcement Cases shows an unsettling trend: FMCSA fines for fiscal year 2018 were already approaching $30 million by the end of April. If enforcement continues at its current pace, motor carriers could be looking at a record year for enforcement activity.
In 2017, motor carriers paid just over $39 million in fines for FMCSA violations. But with ELD enforcement in full force as of April 1, and fines due for an annual raise, we anticipate fines will creep closer to $60 million by the year’s end – resulting in a 200 percent increase in the past five years.
As these figures show, the FMCSA continues to ramp up enforcement of motor carrier regulations across the board – with a particular focus on hours of service and ELDs. In 2018 so far, noncompliance with hours of service and ELD regulations make up almost half of the driver violations issued during roadside inspections. The most common issues were log violations and operating without an ELD device that is on the federal self-certification list.
These fines don’t come cheap, either. One fleet was fined $198,000 this year for false logs, while another paid $70,400 for driving over the maximum allowable hours for the week. Drug and alcohol testing violations were also a source of larger fines, with some companies paying well over $10,000 for failing to maintain a random testing program.
What You Can Do
As a motor carrier, the best thing you can do to reduce your risk of being hit with a hefty fine is to make sure you’re operating compliantly – especially when it comes to your hours of service and drug and alcohol requirements. If you have any questions about your compliance needs, or want to discuss your business with an expert in FMCSA requirements, please call (800) 253-5506 and we’d be happy to help. In addition to our traditional programs and services, Foley has audit specialists on staff who can help you navigate larger compliance issues more easily.
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