NHTSA Complaint #10236871 — 2000 MACK RD

A REPORT, "PROBLEMS INVOLVING KENTUCKY COAL TRUCKS" WAS SUBMITTED AS A PETITION TO THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE ATTENTION OF THE SECRETARY MARY E. PETERS. THIS PETITION DESCRIBED FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURRENCES IN KENTUCKY DURING THE TIME PERIOD 2001 THROUGH 2005 INVOLVING DUMP TRUCKS, ILLEGALLY LICENSED, THAT WERE OVERWIDTH AND DID NOT COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REGULATIONS. AS OF THIS DATE, AUGUST 4, 2008, NO RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM THE USDOT. THE ACCIDENTS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT BRAKE CAPACITY ON MACK RD888SX DUMP TRUCKS. TESTS PERFORMED ON A NEW MACK RD888SX VEHICLE LOADED TO LEGAL KENTUCKY WEIGHT LIMITS ESTABLISHED IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO STOP THAT TRUCK WITHIN FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. AT LEAST 65 DEATHS OCCURRED DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS WERE ESTIMATED TO HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVELY LOADED COAL DUMP TRUCKS. THE INCIDENT DATA BELOW DATED MARCH 7, 2005, RELATES TO ONE INCIDENT IN WHICH A MINISTER WAS KILLED. CIVIL ACTION AGAINST THE COAL TRUCK DRIVER AND THE COAL COMPANY RESULTED IN A JUDGMENT AGAINST THE DEFENDANTS. NO REMEDIAL ACTION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN BY AGENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NOR HAS ANYONE FROM THE DOT RESPONDED TO MY MARCH 7, 2008, LETTER AND DATED REPORT OF MARCH 3, 2008. *TR