WASHINGTON, D.C. — Shuttle Service Xpress, a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based trucking firm, was sentenced to a $50,000 fine and three years’ probation on a charge stemming from the falsification of driver’s logs.

The case is part of a U.S. Dept. of Transportation crackdown that since January 1997 has netted 33 indictments, 25 convictions, and $1.3 million in fines, recoveries, and restitution.

Shuttle Service Xpress was also ordered to set up a monitoring system to prevent similar violations at the company.

The firm pleaded guilty July 21, 1998, to a charge of making false statements.

Earlier this year, Shuttle Service Xpress owner John Hoth pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements in connection with the falsification of driver’s logs. On Oct. 26, he was sentenced to six months in confinement in a community corrections facility plus three years’ supervised release.

Hoth was also fined $10,000 plus $13,632.90 to cover costs of his confinement and supervision. He must also pay for the monitoring system and for random inspections checking on his firm’s compliance with federal trucking regulations.

Also sentenced Dec. 1 were five Shuttle Service Xpress truck drivers. Each was placed on two years’ probation and fined $1,500 for falsification of logs. They had pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements. A sixth driver failed to appear for sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the Office of Inspector General of the DOT.