The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has ordered Las Vegas, Nevada-based JDJD Transportation LLC, to immediately shut down, following a federal investigation that revealed numerous widespread violations of critical safety regulations.

The company, which was declared an imminent hazard to public safety, operated three tractors transporting heavy equipment, machinery and metal in the Southwest.

Last month FMCSA safety investigators completed a compliance investigation into JDJD Transportation during which numerous serious violations of federal regulations were found.

This included failing to ensure that its drivers complied with hours-of-service regulations as well as limitations on daily driving and maximum on-duty hours, according to the agency. During the investigation, investigators found that JDJD Transportation failed to maintain copies of drivers’ records and had no safety management system to check and ensure driver compliance.

The also found they carrier failed to ensure drivers possessed a valid commercial driver’s license and that they were qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle, using drivers that had not been tested for drug or alcohol use, and failled to implement a drug and alcohol testing program.

Investigators also discovered JDJD Transportation failed systematically inspect, repair and maintain its commercial vehicles; had no annual inspection records and did not require drivers to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections for its 15- to 30-year-old vehicles, despite a pattern of roadside inspections finding serious maintenance problems.

During the nine-months prior to the compliance review, JDJD Transportation was subjected to nine roadside inspections, according to FMCSA. On all but two occasions, multiple serious safety violations were discovered. During the most recent inspection, three days before FMCSA ordered the carrier to cease operations, JDJD Transportation’s vehicle was placed out-of-service for multiple serious safety defects, including cracks in the vehicle’s frame.

During this same period nine-month period the company had also been cited for failing to ensure compliance with load securement, size limitation, and signage requirements. In December 2014, a JDJD Transportation flatbed trailer hauling heavy equipment struck an overpass bridge near Houston, Texas. The driver was cited with transporting an oversized load, having an expired license and no insurance.

The FMCSA imminent hazard order directs JDJD Transportation to cease all commercial motor vehicle operations, including all interstate and intrastate transportation, from all dispatching locations or terminals. The agency has also revoked the carrier’s federal operating authority and suspended its U.S. DOT number.

Violating an imminent hazard out-of-service order and operating without operating authority and a U.S. DOT 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.

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