WASHINGTON — A Houston-based carrier has been shut down by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) after the company changed its name to avoid a shutdown order issued by FMCSA just weeks earlier.
JPL Logistics LLC (USDOT No. 346112) has been declared an imminent hazard to public safety by the FMCSA and has been ordered to immediately cease all interstate and intrastate operations. The carrier was served the federal order on May 31.
JPL Logistics was declared to be an imminent hazard after the FMCSA determined the company began operations so Jaypur Logistics LLC (USDOT No. 3150073) could avoid the imminent hazard order issued to it on May 7, 2022.
The imminent hazard order issued to Jaypur Logistics, which is still in effect, specifically notes that a motor carrier “cannot avoid this order by continuing operations under the name of another person or company.”
However, the FMCSA says, Jaypur Logistics did just that by operating as JPL Logistics. JPL Logistics used common ownership, common management, common control and/or common familial relationship to enable Jaypur Logistics and its principal to avoid Jaypur Logistics’ imminent hazard order.
On May 7, the same day the imminent hazard order was served on Jaypur Logistics, a Jaypur Logistics driver was stopped for violating the imminent hazard order and placed out of service. Jaypur Logistics immediately provided the driver with the DOT number of JPL Logistics to complete the trip, according to the FMCSA.
The FMCSA’s prior review of Jaypur Logistics found the motor carrier to be egregiously noncompliant with multiple federal safety regulations, including:
- Controlled substances and alcohol use and testing (49 CFR Part 382);
- Commercial driver’s license standards (49 CFR Part 383);
- Driver qualification (49 CFR Part 391);
- Unsafe driving (49 CFR Part 392);
- Hours of service of drivers (49 CFR Part 395); and
- Vehicle inspection, repair and maintenance (49 CFR Part 396).
Failing to comply with the provisions of the FMCSA’s imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $29, 893 for each violation. JPL Logistics LLC may also be assessed civil penalties of not less than $11,956 for providing transportation in interstate commerce without operating authority registration, and up to $16,864 for operating a CMV in interstate commerce without USDOT Number registration. Knowing and/or willful violations may result in criminal penalties.
A copy of the imminent hazard order issued to JPL Logistics is available here, and a copy of the imminent hazard order issued to Jaypur Logistics is available here.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
