April 9, 2012

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared New Jersey-based J&A Transportation, Inc. an imminent hazard to public safety, and ordered the commercial truck company to shut down its operations.

FMCSA placed J&A Transportation out-of-service after numerous roadside inspections which found multiple hours-of-service, driver and vehicle maintenance violations. The order also applies to J&A Transportation, Inc.'s principals and drivers.

"Safety is our top priority at the U.S. Department of Transportation," said Secretary Ray LaHood. "Commercial truck companies whose disregard of the law places the traveling public at risk will not be allowed to operate on our nation's highways."

FMCSA ordered the shutdown of J&A Transportation after safety investigators found that the truck company continued to operate without an active USDOT number and valid operating authority. Investigators also discovered that the company operated vehicles that had serious mechanical defects, and were not regularly inspected and repaired. Additionally, the company's drivers had serious hours-of-service and driver qualification violations that substantially increased the likelihood of serious injury or death to the traveling public.

"FMCSA takes seriously its responsibility to remove unscrupulous truck companies off the road. Companies that disregard safety will be shut down," said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro.

A copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order can be viewed at http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/about/news/2012/J-A-IH-OOS-Order.pdf.

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