FMCSA to Hike Fines on June 2

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration today published as a final rule an adjusted schedule of civil penalties for violating federal safety rules. FMCSA said the changes will take effect on June 2.

According to the agency, the adjustments were inflation-driven, pointing out that “most of the civil penalties were last adjusted for inflation in 2007, and some have not been changed since 2003.” FMCSA noted that other changes to the civil penalties were mandated by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) spending bill passed back in 2012.

Examples of the higher penalties include hefty increases for violating these out-of-service orders: 

• $5,000 more for requiring or permitting operation of CMV by driver
• $5,000 more for conducting operations during suspension or revocation for failure to pay penalties
• $1,000 more for operation by driver of CMV or intermodal equipment that was placed out of service

FMCSA provided a complete summary of the new penalty adjustments online.