State Audit Reveals Inadequate Monitoring of Commercial Carriers

An audit released by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reveals the state Department of Transportation is not adequately monitoring commercial carriers, potentially putting the public at risk.

Federal and state regulations require motor carriers to return inspection and repair certifications to DOT within 15 days. DiNapoli’s auditors, however, found that the DOT does not monitor whether carriers that have been cited submit the required certifications, which indicate that violations have been repaired or corrected, on time.

As a result, 39% of the certifications for 90,368 violations on vehicles and drivers during the audit period of Oct. 1, 2008 to June 17, 2013 were not submitted, leaving DOT with no assurance that the violations had been corrected. DiNapoli’s auditors found that in roughly 60% of violations reviewed, DOT did not use enhanced enforcement actions to ensure compliance with the law. Instead, violators typically received only a traffic citation.

DiNapoli recommended the DOT institute a comprehensive tracking system to monitor compliance, develop strategies to improve carrier compliance, and impose increasingly severe penalties.

In an interview in Norwich, Chenango County, Commissioner Joan McDonald responded to the critical audit.