Judge: DOT Inspector General Went Too Far
A second federal judge has ruled that the Department of Transportation’s Inspector General overstepped its bounds for investigating trucking companies for violations of federal motor carrier safety laws, but denied a request by five carriers for an injunction prohibiting the inquiries.
In 1999, five trucking companies whose records were seized by investigators sued the inspector general’s office to retrieve their records. The plaintiffs are Northland Trucking of Phoenix; Florilli Corp. of West Liberty, Iowa; Dave Kistler and Grandson Trucking of Kempton, Pa.; K and C Trucking Co. and Lone Wolf Transportation Inc, both of Rustberg, Va.
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In his March 1 ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas F. Hogan also warned that Inspector General Kenneth M. Mead is jeopardizing his office’s independence and objectivity by using its criminal investigative capabilities to support DOT’s goal of improving safety.
“The inspector general’s authority does not extend to investigations conducted pursuant to regulatory statutes,” Hogan wrote in issuing his decision from Washington, D.C.
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