Replacement Truckers Raise Safety Issues at California Trucking Firm
A Northern California trucking firm is being accused of sloppy paperwork when it comes to hours of service and drug and alcohol testing
A Northern California trucking firm is being accused of sloppy paperwork when it comes to hours of service and drug and alcohol testing.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, a California Highway Patrol
inspection has revealed Tracy, Calif.-based Summit Logistics lacked paperwork showing that it is complying with laws limiting the amount of time truckers spend behind the wheel and requiring drug and alcohol testing.
Summit said Monday that it has taken corrective action, changing the way it
records the amount of time drivers spend on the road and testing 250 drivers for drug and alcohol use. Three drivers who failed the tests were dismissed.
The company delivers nearly everything for sale at Safeway's 246 Northern California, Nevada and Hawaii supermarkets.
The CHP downgraded Summit's rating to "unsatisfactory," and will reinspect Summit's operations within the next 120 days. The CHP will not fine Summit or suspend its authority to operate in California unless the company fails to provide paperwork by the next inspection date.
Summit officials pointed out to the paper that the CHP did not say the situation created an imminent danger, letting them continue to operate while fixing the problem.
The drivers in question are replacement workers for Summit's regular workforce of 1,100 warehouse workers and truckers, who have been on
">strike since Oct. 18.
CHP's decision to inspect Summit came in response to an anonymous tip.
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