Updated

A safety citation confirms that a former FedEx driver in Utah — now suing for discrimination — had been cited for violations of federal trucking regulations.

FedEx says the violations led to the termination of Ismail Aliyev (ALI'-ev), who was a long-haul contract driver for the shipping company.

Aliyev claims he was fired because of his Russian accent. He tells The Associated Press he can speak English well enough and disputes the ticket that called him a "non-English speaking driver."

Records obtained Friday by AP show the driver was cited at an Iowa weigh station in August 2011 for an inability to speak English clearly.

He also was ticketed for unsafe backing on a highway ramp and driving for 14 hours, which exceeds the 11-hour limit. Records show an Iowa court found him guilty of all three infractions.