FMCSA Orders Shut-Down of Colorado Trucking Company

Press Release

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared an Aurora, Colorado-based trucking company, Sorbon Transport, Inc., USDOT No. 2536669, to be an imminent hazard to public safety and ordered that it immediately shut down. A recent federal investigation revealed numerous widespread violations of critical safety regulations.

"Safety is our highest priority and companies that knowingly put the motoring public at risk will be immediately shut down," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "We will continue to aggressively enforce federal safety regulations and block unsafe commercial drivers, trucks and buses from operating on our roadways.

Earlier this month, without prior notice, FMCSA safety investigators launched an investigation of Sorbon Transport during which numerous serious violations of federal regulations were found, including:

Failing to systematically inspect, repair, and maintain its commercial vehicles. Sorbon Transport failed to provide vehicle inspection reports or evidence of a maintenance program for the company. During a roadside inspection of one of the company's vehicles in early February, eight separate out-of-service violations, and six other maintenance-related violations, were identified. Days later, a different company vehicle was subjected to a roadside inspection in which two out-of-service violations, and 12 other maintenance-related violations, were identified.

Failing to ensure that its drivers complied with hours-of-service regulations designed to prevent fatigue, including limitations on daily driving and maximum on-duty hours. Sorbon Transport could only provide limited driver duty records covering a single trip; those records for that single trip reflected multiple hours-of-service violations.

Failing to ensure drivers were qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Sorbon Transport was unable to provide records related to controlled substances and alcohol testing requirements.

The FMCSA imminent hazard order directs Sorbon Transport to cease all commercial motor vehicle operations, including all interstate and intrastate transportation, from all dispatching locations or terminals. FMCSA also simultaneously revoked the carrier's federal operating authority and suspended its USDOT number. Violating an imminent hazard out-of-service order and operating without operating authority and a USDOT number may result in civil penalties up to $60,000 as well as a criminal penalty including a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment not to exceed one year.

"Companies that ignore basic safety maintenance of their equipment, disregard hours of service requirements, and use unqualified drivers have no place on our highways and roads," said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. "FMCSA staff across the country are dedicated to protecting innocent lives by preventing crashes involving large commercial motor vehicles from ever occurring."

A copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order can be viewed at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/Sorbon-Transport-IHOOS

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