USA Banner

Official US Government Icon

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Site Icon

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Transportation U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

Sanctions Against Motor Carriers, Brokers, and Freight Forwarders for Failure to Pay Civil Penalties

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM); request for comments.

The FMCSA proposes to implement section 206 of the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999 (MCSIA) by amending the penalty provisions of the rules of practice of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). This action would prohibit a motor carrier that does not pay civil penalties assessed by the FMCSA, or that does not arrange and abide by its payment agreements, from operating in interstate commerce. Furthermore, the registration of a broker, freight forwarder, or for-hire motor carrier that fails to pay a civil penalty would be suspended. The prohibition would begin on the 91st day after the payment date specified in the final agency order or on the 91st day after the due date of a missed payment arranged in a payment plan. Motor carriers that continue to operate would be subject to additional penalties, including revocation of their registrations. However, the prohibition would not apply to anyone who is unable to pay a civil penalty because the person is a debtor in a case under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

View PDF