Montana driver shut down after two accidents last fall

Updated Jan 6, 2018
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Following two accidents last fall, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration essentially shut down a Montana driver

Robert Schefflmaer was found to be an imminent hazard to public safety, according to a statement from the FMCSA, and was told to not operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

The FMCSA’s statement said:

Out of ServiceOn Oct. 18, 2017, Schefflmaer was operating a commercial truck and tank-trailer transporting hazardous material on Interstate 80 in Elko County, Nevada, when he lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median and entered the opposing traffic lanes.  The tank-trailer became separated and overturned, causing a hazmat spill of about 51,000 gallons of ammonium bisulfite and partially blocking the roadway.

Schefflmaer was subjected to a mandatory post-crash drug test, which resulted in a positive result for a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Federal and state regulations prohibit a driver who uses a Schedule I controlled substance from operating a commercial motor vehicle.

A post-crash investigation by the FMCSA found that in the two weeks before the crash, Schefflmaer had documented multiple serious violations of federal hours-of-service regulations.

On Nov. 1, 2017, Schefflmaer was operating a large commercial truck and trailer in Montana, abd again lost control of his vehicle, again overturning. The mishap resulted in the deaths of about 20 calves that were being transported. Schefflmaer was cited and later convicted for careless driving.

FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Schefflmaer’s continued operation of any commercial motor vehicle “… constitutes an imminent hazard … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death if not discontinued immediately.”