The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed 287 commercial bus and truck drivers from the roads and said over 128 companies face enforcement actions as a result of the agency's annual drug and alcohol “strike force sweep,” which took place from April 30 through May 11.
The agency said that during the two-week enforcement action, nearly 200 federal investigators examined the drug and alcohol safety records of commercial drivers employed by bus and truck companies, including school-bus operators, interstate passenger carriers, haz-mat transporters and general freight long-haul trucking companies.
FMCSA said the goals of the sweep were to “identify motor carriers in violation of federal drug and alcohol testing requirements and to remove from the road commercial truck and bus drivers who jump from carrier to carrier to evade federal drug and alcohol testing and reporting requirements.”
The 287 commercial drivers caught in the sweep face monetary fines and being barred from operating a commercial motor vehicle for failing to adhere to federal drug and alcohol regulations.
What’s more, 128 truck and bus companies face pending enforcement actions for violations, such as using a driver who has tested positive for illegal drugs and for not instituting a drug and alcohol testing program. Both drivers and carriers will have an opportunity to contest the alleged violations and the amount of the civil penalties, FMCSA noted.
"Removing these dangerous drivers from the roads helps save lives and sends a strong signal that we will not tolerate negligent commercial drivers and companies that violate federal alcohol and drug safety standards," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.
