FMCSA Shuts Down Alabama ‘Chameleon’ Carrier

Federal officials ordered an Alabama-based carrier shut down, saying it is an “imminent hazard to the public,” and a “reincarnation” of a carrier that was shut down in May.

The shutdown order of MTI Transportation followed an earlier one to BM&L Trucking, which the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said in May had violated hours-of-service, driver qualifications and vehicle maintenance rule..

FMCSA found that BM&L’s owner created a new carrier, as MTI had the same business location, phone number, drivers, officers, vehicles, customers and insurance as BM&L.

“The practice of unsafe companies quickly reincarnating as chameleon companies to continue operations is unacceptable,” FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said in a statement, adding that the agency “is constantly doing everything . . . to keep one step ahead of these illegal actors.”

Ollie McWilliams owns MTI, but his brother, Isaac McWilliams, managed and controlled it. Isaac McWilliams also owned and managed MB&L, FMCSA said.

Isaac McWilliams told Transport Topics that he does not own or manage MTI and that MTI is not a reincarnation of BM&L.

“That’s not my company,” he said. “My company was BM&L.” While Isaac McWilliams said he knows who owns MTI, he declined to say who does and refused to comment on the companies’ operations or FMCSA’s allegations.