In the latest episode of "The FreightCaviar Podcast", we sit down with Grace Maher and Jonathan McCormack of OTR Solutions. They shared their take on the current freight market, freight fraud, and talked about OTR's new platform for carriers.
Plus, Landstar delays Q1 earnings report due to massive fraud hit, witness tied to truck crash scheme murdered, UPS to cut 20K jobs amid Amazon pullback, and more.
Federal Probe Uncovers Triton Logistics’ Logbook Tampering in Deadly Crash
A shocking new report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reveals that Triton Logistics, a trucking company based in Romeoville, Illinois, allowed its drivers to violate Hours of Service (HOS) regulations by altering electronic logbooks.
We reported about this incident, mentioning that this action (the falsified logs) and other contributing factors were found to have played a role in the deadly 2022 crash involving a semi-truck and a party bus, which killed three people and injured a dozen others.
Here are the findings from the investigation conducted by the NTSB:
Fictitious Logbooks: Triton Logistics "created fictitious driver accounts" that enabled their drivers to log more hours than allowed. This reckless practice led to severe fatigue, directly contributing to the fatal crash.
The Driver: The 61-year-old trucker involved had been driving for seven straight days. Just before the crash, he drifted onto the shoulder, a telltale sign of exhaustion.
Crash Details: The semi-truck (going on cruise control at 75 MPH) collided with a slow-moving party bus (going 25 MPH) from Futrell’s Party Adventures, whose poor maintenance and a partially blocked prescreen fuel filter also played a role in the crash.
NTSB Recommendations: The report pushes for stricter oversight, urging Triton Logistics to tighten its record-keeping and implement a "robust fatigue management program."
Image Source:WTKR | The Truck and Bus in a tow yard after the crash in 2022.
Both Triton Logistics (Illinois) and the bus company, Futrell’s Party Adventures have yet to respond to these da findings. The NTSB report underscores the urgent need for stricter regulations and enforcement in the trucking industry to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Hello! I'm Jerome FreightCaviar! I’m into the politics of freight and the impact it will have worldwide. I'm always eager to learn more. Follow me on X @JeromeFreightC
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