Holy moly, Bois, The federalis from DOT PHMSA arrived at my office, unannounced yesterday. Demanding this and that. Random audit? Or, more sinister? They are still probing me. Good thing my documentation is good. I need to pepper my Angus. I’ll keep you in the loop.
Well there Coaldust-----I'm glad you posted this, I've brought this up before about DOT Audits, & I think folks on here thought I was joking----have they shined a light up your arse yet? If not they will get around to it. Proper records is everything. * Been through two of these extravaganzas.
They are supposed to give 24 hour notice, not show up unannounced unless they have a warrant. Not sure what all the abbreviations stand for. Good luck
Yes they {DOT} are suppose to---- Pipeline, Hazardous Material Safety are suppose to. But DOT can walk in at the drop of a hat too--depending on issues--if there is any issues. Random--is normally a set up meeting. You have to supply them with office space to conduct a audit, and for sure be polite.
On 10/14, which is a Federal Holiday. That was interesting. So far, they are primarily interested in training records. At first, just a couple documents. Then, yesterday, they wanted training records going back 10 years. Luckily, I had already scanned most everything and had digital copies. I think what’s happening, is one of the big tank service & leasing outfits in the lower 48, filed a formal complaint. Accusing me of not being a legit operation. Because, their customers have switched over to me, as a local provider.
It's specialized---maintenance, only one in sw wa as far as I know to do VK-IP.
Friday update. They are laser focused on a couple typos they found, and generic boiler plate language used on the certification statement, on the 30 month inspection form I created and use for my ISO portable container inspections. Next step is to address that with an E-mail statement. Then, I should hear back next week in a formal letter finishing the investigation. I get it. They travel to the edge of the world. A dirty little trailer park in the stix. They better find something wrong.
Really---it's what triggered & sent them there, is no random pool.
They will come for all of us soon.
Don't care what entity, DOT, OSHA, USDA, or even local health department nobody leaves without some infraction no matter how menial just to justify their existence. Hopefully your particular infraction isn't too pricey. Really sucks them other pricks put the dogs on ya but once they see you're legit maybe won't be back soon.
Here's a good one. NYS dot comes in to check my records etc.. We pas no problem by noon. Inspector asks if he can finish his day just using a desk for paperwork. Sure why not. Comes back from lunch wanting more paperwork to try and find something. We had it no problem. I ask him so if I didn't offer my space audit was done right? Yes. Now you try to catch me on something else. Told him to pack up and leave!
There was an old feed store in the town I grew up. Now it's long gone and there's a city built around it but that's another story. Anyway this old feed store was built early 1900's on a chert rock foundation and rough sawn lumber. Of course no A/C and drafty as an outhouse. One mid '80's summer IIRC some gov't sponsored theft ring er I mean tax collection agency showed up to audit their tax receipts. Owner said sure but you can't take them with you and they are located in the attic. Now the "attic" was just some rough sawn lumber between the joists in an almost 100 year old feed store. This being summer in Alabama they didn't stay long and as I far as I know never came back. State sponsored theft ring called my wife up one day and said they wanted to audit our records. Wife said sure however our office is in our home and I work from home. Mafia on the other end said OK at that point my wife said "we also have a dog that lives in the house, she's an 80 lb Rottweiler". Mafia agent on the other end -" We can do it over the phone". One of the many reasons we've kept our office at home.
When I used to work in construction back in the late 80's early 90's the one company I worked for had an unwritten rule that when OSHA showed up on any job site you packed up all your stuff and left for the day. Like Stinky said they don't come to a site without finding some kind of infractions to justify their administrative state existence.
I'm sure--to most the gov is just a rip-off and total crime, lets just remove 90% of these agency's and stop collecting tax of any kind---and see what a third world country we would be in one month. * Cook the pop corn & watch all the so called good folks at each others throats. * Now as far as Coaldust's issue---I can only go by what he typed---But he is in a very controlled business. Use to be a large fuel/tankline in the NW--I will only use the abbreviation of company name {AT}, the guy who owned it had control over the rest--total crook. A favorite trick is get in with a tribe and get a few tank loads for a bunch less.
That would be awesome!
That's smart.
You left out the important part.
Nope. Don't believe that would happen. Anyway sorry to hijack yore thread Coaldust. So do you have to draft and email statement or is something the feds provide.?
No one ever does, till it happens. Then it's the other guy did it.
No worries. I had to explain a clerical error where a 7 was mistaken for a 9 on a leakage test note line on a completed inspection form. Got that completed last night. My hand written notes were correct. I also had to explain why I was inspecting tanks to international standards along with DOT standards. That confused them. Of course, they are only concerned about DOT 49 CfR, but the Coast Guard and marine lines are also concerned about Container Safety Conference, RID European Agreement for Dangerous Goods and ADR agreements. It’s very convoluted and the Field Investigator was not very familiar with the subject matter. Out of everything they looked at, that’s what they ultimately focused on. I was told to expect a warning letter about the typo and accurate records, next week to finalize the investigation. No fine. Then, I’ll be contacting the particular European tank leasing company, with an office in Houston, and ask them what their beef is with me.
Well I feel a lot safer now that your typo was cited and I hope you dutifully correct it.