FMCSA Declares Driver 'Imminent Hazard' Following Alcohol, HOS Violations

A New Jersey-licensed commercial driver has been declared an “imminent hazard” by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and ordered to stop operating after multiple alcohol-related safety violations came to light following a crash.

On March 28, Gurpreet Singh was driving a 2019 Freightliner when he rear-ended a passenger vehicle on Highway 10 in Washington County, Hillsboro, Oregon, and left the scene of the accident.

After he was located at the plant nursery he was hauling for, an inspection of Singh’s truck found a bottle marked “vodka” in the cab. The inspection also found that Singh did not have a logbook or electronic records of duty status.

Singh was placed out-of-service and directed not to operate his CMV.

However, he blatantly disregarded his out-of-service order and was found driving later that same day in Clackamas County, Oregon. After attempting to evade a sheriff’s deputy, Singh was apprehended at a traffic stop, his eyes glassy and bloodshot.

Singh was arrested and testing showed he had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.07%, well over the .04 threshold for a commercial driver.

Under Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, drivers with a commercial driver’s license are prohibited from using any alcohol within four hours of driving and from driving with an alcohol concentration of .04 or greater. 

Truck Driver Previously Cited for Impaired Driving in Arizona

Prior to these incidents in Oregon, on August 31, 2023, Singh was operating his truck in an erratic fashion in Pinal, Arizona, when he was apprehended. A Preliminary Breath Test revealed a quick capture of .111% and Singh was arrested. 

Based on these incidents, Singh will be listed as prohibited in FMCSA’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse, and FMCSA is working with the state of New Jersey to disqualify his CDL.

He also is charged in Arizona with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of operating a CMV while under the influence of alcohol. Singh is also charged in Oregon with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol. 

FMCSA’s Imminent Hazard Out-of-Service Order states that Singh’s “blatant disregard for the safety of the motoring public demonstrated by these actions substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and the motoring public if not discontinued immediately.” 

Failing to comply with the provisions of the Federal Imminent Hazard Order may result in civil penalties of up to $2,304. Knowing and/or willful violations may result in criminal penalties.