'Illegal alien' with expired CDL arrested | Mich. trucking school suspended

Cuban ‘illegal alien’ with expired CDL arrested

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) on Aug. 6 arrested Jose Carlos Valdivia-Vera, an “illegal alien” from Cuba, who had been issued a final order of removal by a Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge, according to a Department of Homeland Security press release.

According to DHS, Valdivia-Vera had a temporary, one-year CDL that had expired on June 6.

Jose Carlos Valdivia-Vera was arrested by HSI officers in Florida on Aug. 6.U.S. Department of Homeland Security“Every time an illegal alien is behind the wheel of a semi-truck, they are putting countless American lives in danger,” said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE law enforcement, this criminal illegal alien from Cuba who had a commercial driver’s license is off our roadways. He will be removed from our country and will not be able to endanger innocent lives on our streets. We will relentlessly pursue any and all illegal alien truck drivers and the companies that employ them.”

Valdivia-Vera illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location, DHS said.

The arrest is the latest in an ongoing partnership between DHS and the U.S. Department of Transportation targeting foreign drivers, fraudulent CDL schools and other entities in trucking and around the industry's peripheries.

[Related: FMCSA's Barrs, ICE grill 'illegal' drivers: Operation Highway Shield]

Michigan trucking school suspended over training violations

The Michigan Department of State (MDOS) summarily suspended the operations of a Marquette, Michigan, truck driver training provider for multiple violations of a Michigan driver training law.

MDOS said the school, Northern Michigan University Truck Driving School, violated the state’s Driver Education Provider and Instructor Act (DEPIA) by providing behind-the-wheel instruction to students without first verifying that they held valid commercial learner’s permits, among other violations.

The state also said that an initial investigation found the provider failed to maintain records required by law, failed to maintain required student financial records, did not utilize required student written agreements prior to instruction, kept records somewhere other than its established office location, and allowed students to sign blank instructional documents that were later completed. 

The MDOS Driver Education Unit issued a summary suspension to the school, located at 1401 Presque Isle Ave. in the state’s Upper Peninsula, on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

MDOS noted that the investigation is ongoing, and that no classroom or range instruction may be held during the suspension period. The length of the suspension was not disclosed.

[Related: DOT, Homeland Security 'crack down' on 75 CDL schools suspected of fraud]

Nebraska, Oregon wildfire emergencies extended

Truck drivers providing direct relief to the ongoing wildfire emergencies in Nebraska and Oregon are getting an additional month of hours-of-service relief.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Aug. 11 announced extensions of both emergencies. Nebraska’s has been in place since mid-March, while Oregon’s has been in effect since mid-June.

Under each state’s emergency declaration, truck drivers providing direct assistance supporting emergency relief efforts related to the emergency are granted relief from the maximum driving time regulations in 49 CFR 395.3. The relief applies regardless of the origin of the trip, so long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the emergency in the affected states.

Each state’s declaration is now effective through Sept. 11 or until the end of the emergency, whichever is sooner.

Paccar Parts expands in Canada

Paccar Parts this week celebrated the grand opening of its new Calgary, Alberta, parts distribution center (PDC).

The new location is the company’s third distribution center in Canada and is strategically located to optimize delivery speed and parts availability across Western Canada.

“Our new Calgary distribution center represents a significant investment in supporting dealers and customers" across the region, said Wibo de Booij, assistant general manager of operations for Paccar Parts. “Combined with advanced inventory management technology, the facility enhances part availability, accelerates order fulfillment and helps maximize customer uptime.” 

The 180,000-square-foot facility began operations in February and is the latest addition to Paccar Parts’ global distribution network, which includes 21 PDCs and more than 4 million square feet of warehouse space, the company said.