Dear Commercial Driver:

Last week a laptop computer that may contain personally identifiable information was stolen from a government vehicle in Baltimore, Maryland. The laptop is password protected, but out of concern for your information, we are contacting all affected individuals. It is unlikely that the thief stole it based on any knowledge of its data.

The laptop may contain listings of approximately 200 commercial drivers who worked for about 35 companies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. These listings could include names, commercial driver license (CDL) numbers and dates of birth. The listings do not include any financial or medical information and were contained in the computer as part of routine government business. We are also working with the Baltimore Police Department to investigate the theft and are making every effort to recover the laptop.

If your licensing State used your social security number as your CDL number, we recommend that you contact one of the three major credit reporting bureaus to request a free fraud alert be placed on your behalf. Information on fraud alert and the credit bureaus can be found on the Federal Trade Commission's Web site: www.consumer.gov/idtheft. You should also monitor bank and credit card statements and contact your financial institutions to check for any suspicious activity on your accounts.

Additionally, you should be vigilant to any phone calls, e-mails, and other communications from individuals claiming to be from the State agency that issued your CDL, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), or other official sources asking for your personal information or verification of it. This is often referred to as information solicitation or "phishing." Government agencies and other legitimate organizations will not contact you to ask for or to confirm your personal information.

If you suspect fraud involving your financial accounts or receive solicitations for your personal information, we encourage you to contact our Hotline at 1-800-832-5660.

On behalf of FMCSA, I apologize for any inconvenience or concern this causes you.

Sincerely,

Terry T. Shelton
Chief Information Officer
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration