A Georgia trucking company was shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) last week for numerous glaring safety violations. Acworth-based Daya Trucking was ordered to cease all operations and report locations of all its trucks after federal investigators found truckers on controlled substances or driving with bad brakes, worn-out tires or missing parts.
The FMCSA wrote in its Imminent Hazard Operations Out-Of-Service Order, “Daya’s complete and utter lack of compliance…substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death for its drivers and the motoring public if the operations of Daya are not discontinued.”
According to federal investigators, Daya presents a hazard to the public due to its “widespread noncompliance and falsification of records.”
Drivers Using Poorly Maintained Equipment, Under the Influence
Over the course of the past year, investigators found that 46 percent of Daya vehicles had safety issues such as exposed tires, defective brakes and broken or missing axle position components. Daya was found to have used a non-compliant Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRD) system in which drivers can alter their odometer readings. Between January 1 and February 28, 2018, there were 4,802 unaccounted driving hours due to loose or unplugged monitoring equipment.
Some truckers for Daya Trucking were driving with suspended CDL licenses. Even more, investigators found that 42 percent of the company’s truckers submitted falsified driving logs while four drivers tested positive for controlled substances.
Georgia Trucking Company Faces Big Changes or Possible Prosecution
The trucking company’s trouble began in 2017 when it was registered by another name, Ekam Truck Line. It’s not uncommon for trucking companies to change their name in an attempt to divert discipline. These are known to the industry as “chameleon carriers.”
After an investigation last year, Ekam Truck Line agreed to a consent order to comply with federal regulations. Federal investigators said “Ekham, however, failed to comply with virtually all provisions in the consent order and instead evaded the consent order by applying for registration as Daya.”
On April 24th, the FMCSA announced that Daya could face civil fines from the Justice Department or the U.S. Department of Transportation’s inspector general, including criminal prosecution if changes aren’t made. If Daya Trucking wants to stay in operation, it must put into place new safeguards and inform the government of the improvements to its practices.
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