Trucking Company, Owner Plead Guilty, Receive Sentence

USDOT Office of the Inspector General
June 15, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 15, 1998
Contact: Jeff Nelligan
Telephone: (202) 366-6312
OIG 19-98

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General today announced that Ernest A. Jones, owner of Transcorps Enterprises, Inc. of Harrisburg, Pa., and the firm pleaded guilty to willfully violating federal motor carrier regulations. Jones and the company were each sentenced June 9 to pay a $25,000 fine.

On March 6, 1997, Jones and the firm caused a Transcorps driver, Alan Jacobs, to be dispatched, even though Jacobs was not qualified to operate a commercial vehicle. Jacobs, who had an established medical history of diabetes, was dependent on insulin to control his diabetes and therefore was not eligible under federal regulations to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Despite corporate knowledge of Jacobs' medical condition and history, Jacobs was dispatched. Later that day, Jacobs was involved in an accident and killed in Harrisburg.

Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations strictly controls the commercial motor carrier industry. Such regulations --including hours of duty limitations, mandatory drug testing and driver qualifications --are strictly enforced to minimize hazards and protect the traveling public.

An investigation by special agents of the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General and the Office of Motor Carriers led to the pleas by Transcorps and its owner, Jones. Prosecution was handled by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for Middle District of Pennsylvania.