Reporting DOT Non-compliance

Ok, that was easy - I was AMAZED at just how easy it was to file a complaint against a carrier for non-compliance or illegal operation. The carrier in question was in Oklahoma... I called the OK DOT Safety Audit section, the nice lady e-mailed me a form, I filled it out, added attachments... done. they'll investigate, probably ask me a few more questions, but my attachments were pretty thorough.

Again, if you're working for a company that isn't in compliance, it's SO easy to make the ball start rolling. Bear something in mind, though, if you've turned in logs that won't match up to the real world... you could be in trouble, too, so pick your fights carefully.

It's my understanding that a full-blown audit will result.

 

Umm.. sorry?

Here's the deal - if a driver files a bogus complaint.. it gets investigated, and I see no reason why a lying driver, just trying to throw some mud, wouldn't be charged with filing a false report, or whatever they call it as it varies with each state.

The form I filled out for Oklahoma was a state-procured, state police-designed form... not just a sheet of scratch paper. You lie on the form, and I'm sure there will be repurcussions.

 

Sure, understandable. SO many people on the forum whine, complain and cry about how their comany MADE them run illegally... they'll quit and go to another company, but they'll never do anything about it. It's easier than I thought.

Of course, you have the folks who whine about everything, and embellish and make up a bunch of stuff... and now that I see how easy it is to call in the calvary, we'll either have facts or lies.

 

That's cool, and I understand the enforcement problem.

Here's the cool thing - I've been involved with automotive and consumer journalism and the legal side of things for over 10 years. Do you know what a local "consuemr action reporter" would do with the story, especially if the state police DON'T have the people to initiate an audit and take action?

Think of all of those "40 tons of screaming steel" and "horror on the highway" stories some of these goofy journalists could come up with...

 

Good on ya. If more people stood up for themselves and used the agencies in place to correct things like that, we might be safer and more professional... and worth more - who knows?