News Release

Mary 22, 2006

KCC assesses $63,000 in fines against 37 motor carriers

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) assessed $63,000 in fines and penalties against 37 motor carriers for violation of Commission rules and regulations during the third-quarter of the state’s fiscal year 2006 (January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2006). The violations were discovered during Safety Compliance Audits of 155 motor carriers performed by the Commission’s Transportation Division.

The Commission has fined the following motor carriers:

• Accu-Rate Services Inc., Sedgwick, Kans. $1000 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first having a valid medical examiners certificate.
• Arensdorf Trucking Inc., Medicine Lodge, Kans. $4,000 for six safety violations. The violations include allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle more then the allowed 11 hours without being off-duty 10 hours, after 14 hours on-duty without being off-duty the required 10 hours, more then the allowed 70 hours in a 8-day period, operate a commercial motor vehicle that had been placed out-of-service prior to fulfilling off-duty time requirements, and allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• Best Well Service Inc., Liberal, Kans. $2,500 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, failure to require a driver to prepare a record of duty status report, and for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• B&J Lawn & Landscaping LLC, Basehor, Kans. $1,000 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to require a driver to prepare a record of duty status report and for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• Burch Express Inc., Kansas City, Kans. $3,000 for three safety violations. The violations include allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first obtaining operating authority, without a periodic inspection, and without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• Cecil L. Fellows d.b.a. C and S Trucking, Garden City, Kans. $1,000 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in excess of the maximum gross weight allowed by law.
• Cranston Trucking Inc., Monument, Kans. $5,500 for four safety violations. The violations include failure to require a driver to prepare record of duty status reports, allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle more then the allowed 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, and for allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• CWC Inc., d.b.a. ACT Inc., Wichita, Kans. $2,000 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle more then the allowed 70 hours in 8 consecutive days, and for allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• David Rumbaugh Farms Inc., Sabetha, Kans. $750 for failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed.
• H&K Hauling LLC, Augusta, Kans. $3,500 for four safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program for each driver employed, maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, require a driver to prepare record of duty status reports, and for failure to maintain minimum records of inspection and vehicle maintenance.
• Felix Gonzalez d.b.a. J & J Gonzalez, Scott City, Kans. $1,500 for two safety violations. The violations include allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report and for failure to maintain driver record of duty status reports and supporting documentation for a period of six-months.
• Flagler Productions Inc., Lenexa, Kans. $500.00 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• Gary R. Whetstone Inc., Garden City, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first having a valid medical examiners certificate.
• Gere’s LLC, Garden City, Kans. $2,000 for three safety violations. The violations include allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report, failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program, and failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Hajoca Corporation, Wichita, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• Harp Holdings LLC d.b.a. Lazyboy Furniture Galleries, Wichita, Kans. $500 for failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Heartland Specialty Contractors Inc., Shawnee, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first having a valid medical examiners certificate.
• Helten Enterprises LLC, Garden Plain, Kans. $2,000 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program, failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, and for failure to require a driver to prepare a record of duty status report.
• John H. McCray Sanitation Inc., Wichita, Kans. $3,000 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program, failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, and for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first repairing violations listed on the motor vehicle inspection report.
• Kenco Trucking Inc., Wichita, Kans. $2,500 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program, and failure to perform a return-to-duty controlled substance and/or alcohol test with receipt of a negative result prior to performing safety sensitive functions.
• Lawrence Landscape Inc., Lawrence, Kans. $4,000 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed and for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first requiring the driver to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
• Melvin E. Endicott d.b.a. Rainbow Organic Farms Co., Bronson, Kans. $1,250 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program and failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Metal Roofing Specialties Inc., Fredonia, Kans. $1,500 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection, and allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• Mid-Plains Construction Inc., Plains, Kans. $500 for failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Mid-States Hay Inc., Lakin, Kans. $1,000 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed and for allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• Oram Material Handling Systems Inc., Kansas City, Kans. $500 for failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Rich H. Griffin d.b.a. RG Construction Pomona Ready Mix, Pomona, Kans. $3,000 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed, allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first requiring the driver to obtain a commercial driver’s license, and for failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing program.
• Riley Chevrolet Buick Inc., Hugoton, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first having a valid medical examiners certificate.
• Shawn C. Allen d.b.a. Lazy A Trailer Sales, Hutchinson, Kans. $500 for failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver employed.
• Southwind Oil Corp., Augusta, Kans. $1,500 for two safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed and allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous material without first having documentation on file of hazardous material training for each driver.
• Steven Wright, Lakin, Kans. $5,000 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in excess of the maximum gross weight allowed by law.
• Tad Bit Inc., Dighton, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without first having a valid medical examiners certificate.
• Valley Moving LLC, Wamego, Kans. $2,000 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to implement an alcohol and/or controlled substance testing, failure to maintain a current motor vehicle record for each driver, and allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• The Water Depot Inc., Olathe, Kans. $1,500 for three safety violations. The violations include failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver, failure to require a driver to prepare a record of duty status report, and for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a periodic inspection.
• Western Carriers Inc., d.b.a. WCI, Wakeeney, Kans. $1,000 for allowing or requiring a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous material without first having documentation on file of hazardous material training for each driver.
• West Plains Transport Inc., Plains, Kans. $500 for allowing or requiring a driver to complete a trip without completing a driver vehicle inspection report.
• Wolverine Hydrovac Excavation LLC, Pratt, Kans. $500 for failure to maintain driver qualification files for each driver employed.

The Transportation Division offers free compliance seminars. The seminars are held weekly on a rotating basis in Topeka, Hutchinson, Hays, and Garden City. The seminars, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and lasting approximately two hours, are presented by the Commission’s Transportation Division staff and are designed to help motor carriers comply with Safety and Economic Regulations. The seminar schedule is available on the Commission’s website at www.kcc.state.ks.us or by calling 785 271-3231.

The KCC Transportation Division is responsible for regulating public and private motor carriers in Kansas. The Commission’s goal is to ensure appropriate and effective regulation and oversight of motor carriers and protect the public interest and safety.