Trucking Abuses Threaten Lives On The Road
New Regulations Aim To Improve Safety
Trucking is a fact of American life and business.
Companies of all sizes rely on truckers to deliver their goods cross country. American business would grind to a halt without the vital work done by over-the-road truckers behind the wheel of semis.
But the massive 18-wheel big-rigs operated by truckers can also be extremely dangerous -- especially when loaded with tons of cargo or hazardous materials. These vehicles inherently put passenger cars, pickup trucks and SUVs in peril. Not to mention lives.
That's why the trucking industry is guided by strict guidelines for trucking companies, as well as their employees. To protect the lives of men, women and children.
Hour restrictions
The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that truckers hauling goods may drive no more than 11 hours, and only following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Furthermore, truckers may work no more than 14 consecutive hours, including non-driving tasks.
Hours spent driving, resting and performing other duties are typically recorded in logs. Ink and paper logs first became a requirement for truckers back in 1938.
Of course, no one is there watching over their shoulders, so the honor system is firmly in place. The faster a trucker completes a delivery, the more cargo he can deliver. So the system is vulnerable to falsified logs.
A system prone to abuse
Safety experts have long decried the honor system, claiming that it's too easy and too tempting for truckers to falsify logs.
But it appears the old system is about to change.
In January 2016, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that truckers and bus drivers must use electronic logging to record their driving hours. The high-tech tracking system monitors vehicle movement, location information, engine hours and miles traveled.
The FMCSA estimates that the new system will save $1 billion by reducing paperwork and will prevent 26 fatalities and 562 injuries.
Trucking companies will have two years to install electronic monitoring devices in their fleets.
Investigating abuses
When accidents involving semis occur, it's the responsibility of the investigating agency to interrogate the trucker's logs. It could be that he's driven over the prescribed mileage limit, failed to take adequate breaks or gotten enough sleep.
But sometimes a police investigation isn't enough.
Experienced Semi Accident Attorneys
The attorneys of Dallas & Turner investigate every semi accident independently, reaching their own conclusion on what happened and who's to blame. Police and other authorities can miss vital details that can make a difference in your case.
No matter where you live in the state of Kentucky, we offer a free, no-risk consultation to anyone who has been involved in a semi trucking accident. This means you’ll never be charged to speak to us and the only way we receive payment for our legal services is if you receive compensation for your railroad accident and injury.
To speak to a Dallas & Turner PLLC attorney immediately, please dial 859-630-0666. You can also write to us by using our free contact form.
Our clients come first, no exceptions. We look forward to working for you.
James Ryan Turner, Experienced Injury Lawyer in Florence, KY
"Trucking abuses result in severe injuries and loss of life. If you or a loved one has been in a semi-truck accident, we are here to lend our experience in trucking cases to help you evaluate your case."