84 carriers caught in traffic safety sweep

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. traffic regulators said Friday that 84 truck and bus companies faced sanctions for violations of substance abuse laws.

Through a national drug and alcohol strike force, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said a 10-day initiative from Sept. 8-18, resulted in 84 companies facing some form of legal action for violations such as hiring drivers who failed drug tests or for lacking a drug testing program.

The FMCSA also said the task force pulled 77 commercial bus and truck drivers "off the road," as a result of the sweep.

One of the missions of the task force was to ferret out drivers who jump from carrier to carrier illegally, the FMCSA said in a statement.

"Safety is the number priority for the Department of Transportation," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. "Parents need to know when they put their child on a school bus that the driver will get them there safely and that they are drug and alcohol free."

He said the task force was helping to "remove the most dangerous offenders from our roadways."