I'm Back... Here's some picts...

[Mike M]

Mr John Hill, Mike M and the boys....

Mr. Hill was gracious and posed with awardees after the ceremony.



The award, not much too look at but it serves its purpose. I feel honored to be a recipient.

I took the boys around DC and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery; the Capitol building; the Washington Monument; Lincoln Memorial; and Vietnam Memorial.

The boys complained a little about the walking distance but fared well. They enjoyed riding the Metro around town to see the sights.

It was a nice short vacation and we all had a good time.

Be safe.

[pipeman]

What does the award say Mike ?

[mrs. greybeard]

Congrats!!

[Mike M]

PM

What does the award say Mike ?

"Michael M Safety Investigator of the Year 2008"

I was in the top 2% for discovering Critical & Acute violations and managed to have 19 cases successfully prosecuted for significant penalties. The preceeding was performed in addition to performing my other duties; working with the Federal Railroad Administration at Intermodal rail yards, doing public outreach; and performing 220 HM package inspections. It was a very busy year.

Thanks Mrs GB, I appreciate the sentiment.

Be safe.

[Ramona]

Congradulations Mike and those are some mighty fine looking young men there.

The way I see it, TN is fortunate to have someone like yourself as a member here who offers up the information that you do.

Good Job!

[Jay Relph]

Congratulations Mike !!


Does it seem strange that truck drivers...........the ones he prosecuted are congratulating him..

[Raoul Duke]

The way I see it, TN is fortunate to have someone like yourself as a member here who offers up the information that you do.

Exactly so. You've saved me some money over the years, Mike, and "ah 'pre-she-ate-it". Thanks, and congratulations.

[Monty]

Mikes getting old! Look at that grey hair!

Congratulaions again, Mike on the recogizition!

[blackf3504dr]

Mikes getting old! Look at that grey hair!

Congratulaions again, Mike on the recogizition!

That's kinda like the kettle calling the pot black ain't it Monty ?


Congratulations Mike!

[Shuffler]

Congratulations, Mike.
I remember you announcing the award to us a while back - the first time I learned what you do.
The post and pictures are a nice follow-up.
Thanks again for helping clean-up some of the problems out here. It must be very tough work
and I'm sure you don't hear many thank you's... ...so it's terrific that there's this recognition
and hopefully you've got time to nail a bunch more before you lose all that graying hair.

Running safe and legal in case I get to meet you some day.

Jim

[pipeman]

Mike,

For information purposes only, have you ever written anyone up for having a Dolly Crank that wasn't properly secured ?

[Indiana Roadrunner]

An award winning DOT G Man.

This why I stay away from Chicago.

BTW
Congratulations Mike

[QRTRHRS]

I took the boys around DC and visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery; the Capitol building; the Washington Monument; Lincoln Memorial; and Vietnam Memorial.

Congratualations. No time for the Air and Space Museum?

[corydon]

Good job. Kinda nice, a cop who is interested in trucking.
Are you the one with the red shirt?

I drive at least 70mph in IL, my truck is light blue, wasington license plate and I like to drive half naked. ..........

[Mike M]

Congradulations Mike and those are some mighty fine looking young men there.

The way I see it, TN is fortunate to have someone like yourself as a member here who offers up the information that you do.

Thanks Ramona, the boys are a handful at times but overall well behaved. As I mentioned earlier TN has allowed me to hone my skills in regard to knowing the FMCSR. The appreciation is mutual.

Does it seem strange that truck drivers...........the ones he prosecuted are congratulating him..

Jay Ralph, I may have had one maybe two driver cases this year. For the most part I do carrier, HM shipper, and cargo tank repair facility cases. Cases are primarily generated from information gathered during compliance reviews. I don’t have a twang of guilt regarding the cases generated, for the most part the cases are for blatant disregard of the rules and regulations, i.e.

1 12/5/2007 IL-2007-151 Compliance Review

382.305(b)(2) Failing to do random drug tests at applicable annual rate 3 $15,300.00

383.37(a) Allowing driver to drive with suspended/revoked/etc. CDL 1 $2,390.00

391.51(b)(7) No medical certificate in qual. file 1 $820.00

395.8(i) Failing to submit record of duty status within 13 days 14 $11,620.00

2 8/22/2006 IL-2006-349 Compliance Review

382.301(a) Using a driver before receiving a pre-employment result 1 $1,950.00

391.51(b)(2) Inquiries into driving record not kept in qualification file 1 $780.00

395.3(a)(1) Requiring or permitting property CMV driver to drive more than 11 hrs 3 $5,160.00

396.21(b) Failing to retain periodic inspection report for 14 months 1 $740.00

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/Safety ... ageN=EH#EH

1 1/31/2008 IL-2008-35 Compliance Review

172.800(b) Offering or transporting w/o a security plan conforming to Subpart requirements 1 $8,770.00
391.45(b)(1) Using a driver not medically reexamined each 24 months 3 $5,190.00

395.8(a) Failing to require driver to make a record of duty status 18 $18,000.00

395.8(e) False reports of records of duty status 20 $20,000.00

396.21(b) Failing to retain periodic inspection report for 14 months 9 $6,120.00

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/Safety ... ageN=EH#EH

1 5/8/2008 IL-2008-108 Compliance Review

382.305(b)(2) Failing to do random drug tests at applicable annual rate 6 $28,320.00

390.35 Requiring, permitting or making false statements or records. 1 $5,730.00

395.8(a) Failing to require driver to make a record of duty status 19 $15,770.00

396.11(c) Failing to correct Out-of-Service defects reported on DVIR. 3 $27,720.00

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/Safety ... ageN=EH#EH

1 7/15/2008 IL-2008-221 Compliance Review

383.23(a) Operating a CMV without a valid CDL 1 $2,000.00

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/Safety ... ageN=EH#EH

Hopefully Jay you’ll notice carriers are not being zinged for light weight violations. The cases built require substantial evidence to prove the violation occurred. It’s not a simple matter of writing a ticket and collecting the money.

Exactly so. You've saved me some money over the years, Mike, and "ah 'pre-she-ate-it". Thanks, and congratulations.

Raoul Duke, any time. If you’ve managed to avoid penalties you’ve earned it. I often remind carriers the safety rating they receive is a result of their efforts good or bad.

Mikes getting old! Look at that grey hair!

Congratulaions again, Mike on the recogizition!

What hair Monty? I blame the gray hair on the job.

I remember you announcing the award to us a while back - the first time I learned what you do.

Shuffler, I guess I’ll have to recognize your ability to believe half of what you see and nothing of what you hear. I joined TN in 1998 following an invite from Bedspread. I met Bed on an inspector’s forum and he pointed me this way.

Mike,

For information purposes only, have you ever written anyone up for having a Dolly Crank that wasn't properly secured ?

PM, I believe there was once a dolly crank was hanging on by its last thread and the driver was asked to replace the bolt before he proceeded.

Congratualations. No time for the Air and Space Museum?

Qrtrhrs the museums closed at 5:00 PM and by the time I got out and about it was often close to closing time. I made it a point to stop by the Navy Achieves and obtain a picture of the USS Preble DLG-15 the small boy I was stationed on in 1973 – 1974. It was tough getting to what we saw by sundown with the shorter days. Some of the pictures I took required a flash and the object in the background is a couple of shades darker than the subject.

Good job. Kinda nice, a cop who is interested in trucking.
Are you the one with the red shirt?

Yes

I drive at least 70mph in IL, my truck is light blue, wasington license plate

You can drive it 70 mph, just don’t log it at 70 mph:

1 9/5/2007 IL-2007-371 Compliance Review

392.6 Scheduling a run which would require exceeding speed limits 5 $9,450.00

395.8(e) False reports of records of duty status 7 $5,250.00

http://ai.fmcsa.dot.gov/SafeStat/Safety ... ageN=EH#EH

and I like to drive half naked.

Ouch, way too much information.

Thanks one and all, I appreciate the good nature ribbing and well wishes.

Be safe.