Carrier Protests Ligon's Action

February 3, 2000 9:54 AM, EST

The president of Hawk Transport said he is being unfairly penalized for the failure of Landstar Ligon’s management to conduct drug testing and to adequately monitor drivers’ compliance with federal motor carrier safety rules.

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	Ligon Pays Fine For Safety Violations (Feb. 3) Ligon Will Keep Satisfactory Rating (Jan. 12) Landstar Works to Undo Rating (Dec. 7) Landstar Unit Gets Low Safety Grade (Nov. 23) (Note: To return to this story, click the "Back" button on your browser.)

The Balch Springs, Texas-based fleet had 134 trucks and a couple of hundred trailers leased to the Kentucky carrier when Ligon cut off its contract as part of the company’s response to a proposed unsatisfactory rating by the Department of Transportation.

President Mike Kratze said he notified Ligon officials numerous times of problems in the safety department after noticing that none of his drivers were being selected for random drug and alcohol screening.

“It’s their responsibility to designate the random drug screen,” Kratze said. “We had one random screen in five years. They were notified by me and [safety director] Barry Eastlack, but they always looked the other way.”

For the full story, see the Jan. 31 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.