Do Truck Drivers Follow Different Laws?
To operate a vehicle on a public road, every driver in every state must have a current driver's license.
Although the licensing of drivers is governed by each state individually, the Uniform Vehicle Code is generally followed.
Due to the universality of licensing regulations, drivers with valid licenses in one jurisdiction can legally drive a car in another one.
Because all states have the same licensing requirements, a driver having a license from one state can legally drive in all states thanks to an interstate agreement between the states.
However, things are a little more challenging when it comes to commercial truck drivers.
Commercial drivers are subject to federal legal restrictions.
Regulations impose additional requirements on commercial drivers, such as the number of hours they can drive without stopping and the amount of time they must spend off the road before they can drive again.
These rules assist prevent common causes of trucking accidents and keep everyone safe.
The additional guidelines that truck drivers must adhere to are covered in the article that follows.
Exactly what qualifies as a commercial vehicle?
Any vehicle utilized or maintained for the transportation of people or property for pay or hire qualifies as a commercial motor vehicle under the law.
This covers a variety of vehicles, such as dump trucks, tractor trailers, buses, and more.
In most situations, driving a commercial vehicle requires liability insurance.
If you don't keep the necessary insurance, you can be subject to fines and penalties.
Rules that apply to trucking firms
There are numerous additional laws and restrictions that apply to the trucking sector, some of which also affect the transportation companies.
Testing for drugs and alcohol is one of the most crucial regulations they must adhere to.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, all commercial motor vehicle drivers employed by trucking businesses must submit to drug testing.
Although testing may be performed by laboratories and service personnel employed by trucking companies, the driver's company is ultimately in charge.
If the transportation firm doesn't follow the rules, they risk receiving civil penalties.
Truck drivers must be tested for alcohol and controlled substances as soon as is reasonably possible after an injury accident to determine whether they are over the legal limit.
The employer is required to provide justification if the controlled drug test is not completed within 32 hours of the incident and the alcohol test is not completed within 8 hours of the collision.
Laws Particularly For Truck Drivers
One of the riskiest industries in the United States is the transportation sector.
The transportation industry employs over 2 million people, and over 40,000 of them pass away each year from work-related accidents and illnesses.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that deaths among young men between the ages of 15 and 24 are most frequently caused by crashes involving commercial motor vehicles.
According to an NHTSA research, commercial trucks are involved in almost half of all fatal collisions.
Every day on the road, truckers are exposed to several risks.
They run the risk of colliding, being involved in distraction-related collisions, nodding off while driving, and even losing their lives in a collision.
Congress created a number of unique rules intended to safeguard the general public and drivers in reaction to these concerns.
Restrictions On Service Hours
Safety for drivers and passengers of commercial vehicles is ensured by the hours of service laws.
They set a time limit on how long a motorist can work without a break and mandate eight hours of rest between driving shifts.
Unfortunately, some businesses push their employees to break the law in order to fulfill tight deadlines.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked into a fatal collision involving a tractor-trailer in January 2018 that was driven by a driver who was employed by a trucking company that encouraged him to drive for longer lengths of time.
The motorist had been on the road for 14 hours without stopping before the crash, according to NTSB investigators.
Another inquiry into a fatal accident found that the driver had been on the road continuously for 16 hours before the collision.
In both instances, the trucks drove past the established boundaries while disobeying the hours of service regulations.
According to a recent survey, there were about 50% more hours of service breaches in 2017 than there were in 2016.
In addition, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that 4,858 crashes involving exhaustion occurred in 2017.
Some trucking businesses believe that paying a fee is preferable to losing money as a result of a delayed shipment.
Exception for hazardous driving situations
Drivers can increase their maximum driving time by two hours during bad weather thanks to the Adverse Driving Condition Exception.
This includes thunderstorms, torrential downpours, snow, sleet, hail, strong winds, fog, dust storms, soaring temperatures below freezing, and anything else that could cause the truck to veer off the road.
To benefit from the exception, drivers must go to a specified location.
Before continuing on the journey, they must make a stop at the predetermined site and wait for the bad weather to pass.
They must return to their home base before continuing their journey once the bad weather has passed.
Logs of Truck Drivers
Commercial truck drivers are required to document each journey they make.
Their driver logs ought to contain details like where the load was picked up, how long it took to finish the journey, what kind of vehicle was utilized, etc.
These documents support the case for carelessness in court.
The majority of drivers are now required to utilize electronic logging devices (ELDs) in place of the handwritten logs that were once required by FMCSA.
Drivers may be held accountable for harm they caused if there is proof that they committed a wrongdoing.
Furthermore, incomplete logs are subject to penalties.
Enhanced Insurance Rules
Special insurance regulations apply to truck drivers as well.
For instance, truckers who transport hazardous chemicals are required to have higher liability insurance.
This includes liability insurance coverage for each event of at least $750,000/$5 million.
Additionally, specific weight and size requirements must be met by CMVs hauling hazardous products.
Inspection specifications
Before, during, and after each voyage, truck drivers are expected to inspect their trucks.
This include assessing the cargo, checking the tires, checking for leaks, and making sure the vehicle is loaded and fastened securely.
You risk fines and penalties if you don't do this.
How Liability Affected by These Special Rules in Collisions with Big Trucks
In the event of an accident, truck drivers who disobey the new rules and fail to take enough rest intervals, observe posted speed limits, keep regular hours, or make sure they are not driving while fatigued could be held liable.
Truckers and the general public are meant to be kept safe as a result of the unique laws and rules that apply to truck drivers.
A trucking firm, driver, or third party may be held accountable when a legal infraction by one of these parties results in someone being harmed.
Speak with a truck accident lawyer Today
One of the most serious kinds of auto accidents is the truck accident.
Every day in America, they take place.
It's crucial to understand how to defend yourself and your legal rights if you were hurt in a truck accident because the driver or trucking firm didn't follow the rules.
The Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can talk about your case and have long represented truck accident victims.
To arrange a free consultation, get in touch with a personal injury attorney at Alexander Shunnarah Trial Attorneys.
Without having to commit, get a free case evaluation from a knowledgeable truck accident attorney and discover how to obtain the monetary compensation you are due.