The Most Common Truck Accident Regulation Violations

A significant number of trucking accidents are caused by drivers or owners who refuse to adhere to the regulations put in place. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has put forward rules and guidelines to try and ensure the safety of all those in the trucking business. While most truck drivers and operators endeavor to follow such guidelines, every once in a while accidents happen due to negligence and other factors. Such at-fault parties can try this.

Truck accidents can result in costly damages and serious injuries, assuming the victims of the accident survive the ordeal. The potential cost in terms of monetary compensation and criminal charges can ruin a successful trucking business. As such, all parties involved should endeavor to follow all regulations pertaining to road safety.

Common Regulation Violations Involving Trucks

The main objective of the FMCA regulations is to modulate the activities of the trucking operators, including owners, drivers, or any other third parties involved. While there are numerous codes to be observed, they can be categorized into 4 main groups. Violation of each code may result in slightly different penalties. These include:

1)Maintenance of Trucks

Much like all vehicles, trucks require regular maintenance services in order to sustain optimal long-distance travel. This is especially critical for trucks that haul huge amounts of goods over great distances.

The brake system, tires, and engine are some of the many parts that need regular checking and maintenance, which may involve the replacement of certain parts.

Tires are especially susceptible to wear. Hauling heavy goods plus the rough surface of asphalt makes for a combination that gradually damages the tires. Without regular inspection, such damage can quickly turn into a tragedy should such a truck veer off the road and cause a fatal accident.

Front tires with a steering function need extra attention, as variations in their tire pressure could cause serious problems while driving at high speeds.

Part of the maintenance process involves providing truck drivers and their assistants with the necessary training to observe and detect mechanical problems with their vehicles. Sometimes, problems arise while the driver is miles away from the nearest gas station or a mechanic workshop. They should be able to make a judgment call as to the roadworthiness of their truck.

Neglecting to take heed of seemingly minor problems with the truck could result in a violation that ultimately causes legal ramifications.

2) Duty Hours

The human body can only endure a certain amount of strain. The nature of the trucking business is that sometimes drivers have to be on the road for prolonged periods. This, coupled with the stressful nature of the job, means that fatigue is a major problem for a vast majority of such drivers.

As such, regulations stipulate that adequate resting periods must be allocated to each driver after being on the job for a certain number of hours.

Drivers must, for example, have a rest of half an hour for every 8 hours of driving. Driving for more than 11 straight hours is prohibited.

After a hectic week of about 60 hours of driving, a driver is mandated to rest for at least 34 hours before resuming their duties.

Obviously, violation of any of these rules can have grave consequences. Fatigue is one of the most common causes of trucking accidents. A tired driver will likely lose focus, make bad decisions while driving, and possibly have reduced reflexes. Such malfeasance can also result in severe fines for truck owners that permit such incidents.

3) Loading Rules

The trailer segment of any huge trailer is nothing more than a box with wheels attached to it, meaning it has no steering control of its own. This makes the trailer completely dependent on the maneuverability (or lack thereof) of the lead cabin where the driver sits.

Uneven distribution of the weight load can cause an imbalance. This imbalance can prove catastrophic if the trailer is driven beyond a certain speed limit. As such, the FMCA stipulates that loads be properly secured in a manner that can prevent uneven weight distribution.

A total load of 80 000 pounds is the limit for every truck that crosses state lines. This limit is to ensure the safe maneuverability of the trucks while being driven.

4) Hiring Rules

Any truck owner that cares about his business will endeavor to hire competent and qualified drivers. Even without considering violations, hiring drivers with a poor driving record can create all sorts of problems. Drivers with a history of alcoholism or substance abuse, for example, pose an unnecessary risk for the truck owner. This is because intoxication is one of the major causes of truck accidents. Other important hiring rules include only hiring drivers with good eyesight and sound health. Seizures, for example, can happen right in the middle of a journey. The ensuing fits can cause a driver to lose control of a truck and cause a serious accident. Violating such rules could prove very costly, both in terms of payouts and possible legal action.

 

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