The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Friday, May 25, announced that it had ordered Denny Mekenye, doing business as Demco Express and/or Demco Trans Inc., to immediately cease all transportation services based on what the agency described as “serious safety violations that posed an imminent hazard to public safety.”
FMCSA said it shut down Euless, Texas-based Demco following an extensive review of the company’s operations that uncovered multiple federal safety violations in the areas of drivers’ hours-of-service compliance, driver qualifications and drug testing requirements.
“We will not let trucking companies that put motorists at risk operate on our nation’s roadways,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Safety must come first.”
FMCSA said investigators discovered that the company falsified drivers’ records of duty status; allowed its drivers to operate with commercial driver’s licenses that had been suspended, revoked or disqualified; and did not conduct proper controlled substances testing of its drivers. In addition, within the last 12 months, 10 of Demco’s drivers have been placed out of service for not being licensed to drive, the agency said.
“FMCSA is raising the bar to stay in the trucking and bus industry,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro. “Safety cannot be compromised. Adhere to the safety regulations, or you will be shut down.”
Mac
Glad you posted that info. I see some of these carriers on a daily basis but just see the less than quality equipment and drivers. Thanks. I now know more . We just do not know the history of them until it is brought to our attention.
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LikeShould have happened long ago. This company is one of several that are known to be part of what is referred to in the Dallas/Fort Worth market as the "Nigerian Mafia." The companies that are part of "Nigerian Mafia" have long been rumored to use drivers without proper licenses and no experience (other than drive cabs), have been rumored to "look the other way" when drivers have serious accidents and/or drug and alcohol violations, and have been rumored to shut a company down one day and open a new company the next day.
Their company's reputation is horrible in the Dallas/Fort Worth transportation market not only when speaking of their drivers, but the Nigerian Mafia's business model is based upon starting the business and then shutting it down abruptly. They do this for several reasons:
First, and foremost, to avoid legal and regulatory action that is the natural outflow of these companies operating outside the law. They run equipment in all 48 states whether they have the authority or not and they use equipment that is far below the standards as established by Federal and State agencies.
Second, to avoid paying vendors for the minimal repairs they do make to the equipment. They have "stiffed" tire vendors, truck repair shops, trailer repair shops, and trailer leasing companies.
Unfortunately for those of us in the industry that want "trucking" to lose its image as being nothing more than renegades and cowboys, companies such as Demco do nothing more than reinforce this image. I guarantee this action will make the roads in the Dallas/Fort Worth area much safer for other motorists.
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LikeJordon, you evidently have a problem with the English language or reading it. La Hoods shuts down carriers here but wants to allow Mexican trucks to enter the US that do not meet the same US standard he is enforcing. Not to hard to understand if your current on the Cross Border Pilot Program.
You did not see Mexican trucks mentioned in the article because it wasn't . Good for you. I used Mexican trucks because that is where the problem is with the double standards La Hood is using.
You obviously did not see the last sentence either.
You have a great day Jordon.
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LikeThat's really strange Gordon. I must be blind because I didn't see any mention of Mexican trucks in that article.
La Hood? Big hammer? Mexican trucks? Almost sounds like you'd be happier if the FMCSA had left this carrier in operation.
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LikeWell, I see La Hood is at it again. He uses a big hammer on US carriers siting safety issues but wants Mexican trucks that do not meet our criteria to cross into the US. The same issues with Demco Express are the same ones Mexican truck companies will and do have. Drug testing, equipment , qualifications for drivers . La Hood and his double standard once again. It is not going to get better.
I have no problem with US unsafe carriers being shut down for being unsafe. but LaHood doesn't have a clue . Too many 3 martini lunches ?
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