Federal Truck Safety Supervisor Accused of Taking Bribes

Prosecutors say they have recorded phone conversations of a trucking safety supervisor for a federal agency agreeing to provide information that could keep unsafe trucks and drivers on the road in exchange for cash, according to news reports.

James H. Wood, was working as a field supervisor out of the Buffalo, N.Y. office of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration when a safety consultant for Canadian carriers recorded the telephone conversations.

In January 2011, the confidential informant told investigators from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General that he had paid about $70,000 in bribes to Wood over the previous two years. In exchange, Wood helped Canadian companies avoid safety audits or helped delay them and provided information about what inspectors look for. Investigators say Wood also did the following:

• Helped the safety consultant get work from carriers targeted for audits;


• Identified a drug testing company that would change the results of drug tests from positive to negative for $1,000; and


• Initiated safety audits against competing firms.

Wood, 44, of Delevan, N.Y., has been charged with felony counts of bribe taking and conspiracy, according to BuffaloNews.com. He has since pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Safety compromised

The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has more than 1,000 employees nationwide to help ensure that trucks and their drivers can operate safely. If these employees fail to do their job, the lives and safety of millions of Americans are endangered.

If you or a family member has been involved in an accident involving a truck, the personal injury lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright can advise you.  

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The attorneys of Munley, Munley & Cartwright will guide you through each step of the process, which can be lengthy and complicated. Contact us at (800)318-LAW1 or submit a free online case evaluation.

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