June 09, 2011 at @08:30am edt I was driving eastbound on I-84 and pulled into a rest area just past exit 3 in Orange County New York. There was a DOT inspection being conducted but I was NOT instructed to stop for an inspection. I continued on and parked in a truck parking space beyond the inspections being conducted. An officer immediately rushed to my door and questioned
"What do you think you are doing?" I responded that I was simply
" ...parking to read a map and use my cellphone."
The officer then continued to tell me that if I wanted to park there I was
"volunteering for an inspection."
The officer then proceeded to conduct her inspection. I acted politely, compliantly, and cooperated fully. The inspection took until 11:00am. 1 1/2 hours. After the inspection was completed the officer was removing the chocks from my drive tires and suddenly put her hands up for me to stop. She was looking at the blue service line for the air brakes to the trailer. She walked away and came back with another officer who I watched shrug his shoulders and make a nonchalant facial expression. The inspecting officer then proceeded to place me and my truck Out of Service claiming that my service line was "crimped". I remained calm and questioned if she was only kidding?? It was a legitimate question that I based on how smoothly and well we worked together to expedite the inspection. She became defensive and started repeating
"I don't make the laws!"
I was simply in disbelief. The line was NOT crimped. It was a surreal moment to stand there side by side with this New York State Trooper and holding the line in my hand and her telling me it was crimped and therefore unsafe. I could not have disagreed more. At this point, I immediately called my supervisor explained what was happening and also called road service to come replace the air line.
After I got off the phone the officer asked me to pull off and park on the side of the rest area and wait for the road repair driver to show up. When I attempted to move the truck the trailer brakes would not release. There was a significant air leak coming from the relay valve under the trailer. I noticed that part of the valve was missing?? I looked on the ground around the trailer and around the parking lot. I walked over to the officer in charge sitting in his SUV and politely asked him if I could speak to him. I asked if himself or the other officer had picked up anything that would look like a diaphram and the officer immediately got angry. He raised his voice and spoke in a loud angry tone.
"Are you making an accusation?!?"
"No sir, but I did notice that both officers where directly under that relay valve. I'm asking if they picked up any parts from around that area?"
"We don't #### with any valves. If you're making an accusation then we can take care of that real quick!"
He actually interrupted me before I could finish making my statement. He aggressively yanks on his CB radio and requests a tow truck and then looks at me and says with a smile....
"Taken care of."
I pleaded with the officer that I didn't want the truck towed. I reminded him that a road repair was in route and would be there shortly and he responded...
"Better hope he beats the tow truck driver."
I told the officer that he wasn't allowing the road repair driver a reasonable amount of time. It had only been 30 minutes since I had phoned for road repair and he told me that that was plenty of time. At this point I walked away and continued to update my company on the situation. While standing beside the officers SUV I was speaking with my supervisor who had me ask the officer if he would speak to him on the phone but the officer refused saying that "it isn't his policy to talk on the phone." Fifteen minutes after the conversation I had with the officer the tow truck shows up and the driver immediately starts to hook up to my truck. Approximately five minutes after the tow truck driver arrived the road repair arrived. Both drivers were from the same company. After talking to the tow truck driver and mechanic all three of us approached the officer and asked if he would allow the repairs to be made right there without towing the vehicle. Fortunately the officer agreed and the service line was replaced in less than 10 minutes along with the relay valve. The officer drove off prior to the repairs being complete and I was free to leave....
I have held my Class A CDL for nearly 15 years and have been driving tankers for my current employer since April 2008. During my decade plus years of service to the trucking industry I have NEVER acted inappropriately towards any DOT officers. Furthermore, I pride myself on my professionalism, patience, and respect I give towards DOT officers. Never during any of my experiences have I felt and been harassed/threatened by law enforcement. The two officers I had interactions with that day, their behavior and decisions were unprovoked, uncalled for, unprofessional, and unjustified.
I was able to capture pictures, video and the undamaged brake service line that I intend to share with local U.S. Congresswoman Nan Hayworth, local New York State Assembly members, US DOT Ethics committee, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the American Trucking Association, file a complaint with the local New York State Troopers office, local newspaper editors, YouTube, Facebook and anyone else who will listen to my outcry of injustice.Thank you for spending the time to read.
Matthew "WonderTanker" Wayne
New York State DOT inspection gone WRONG!!!!
Discussion in 'Trucking Industry Regulations' started by MattMichigan, Jun 9, 2011.
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I got some video clips but not sure how to upload on here...??
Attached Files:
scottied67 Thanks this. -
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