Every year, thousands of large commercial trucks can be found across highways all over the nation. They’re essential to consumerism today, but it is also imperative that those within the trucking industry know and follow the various regulations governing how they operate.
These regulations are put into place to keep the driver and all others on the road safe from harm. When these regulations are violated in one way or another, it puts everyone on the road in unnecessary danger.
Of course, like any driver on the road, those who operate large commercial trucks must refrain from the use of drugs or drinking while driving. Those are both criminal activities. Here are some of the federal regulations that must be followed.
Hours of Service Regulations: Preventing Drowsy Driving
The Hours of Service regulations dictate how long the truck driver may operate his or her vehicle before they must take a break, as well as how long the break must be and how many days they can work straight after taking a day off.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration categorizes the Hours of Service rules under property-carrying drivers and passenger-carrying drivers.
These regulations can include driving limits (11 hours for property-carrying drivers and 10 hours for passenger-carrying drivers. There must also be ample break periods allowing the driver to get rest and sleep, so they are not driving in a state of sleep deprivation—which can result in swerving and a serious crash.
Weight Limits
On Missouri highways, the maximum weight limit for all vehicles is 80,000 pounds (some vehicles are allowed with an additional 5,500 pounds. The weight limit is designed to prevent some of the serious problems that commonly occur such as rollovers.
Not only are there limits regarding how much a tractor trailer can weigh, it is also important to ensure that the trailer is loaded in an even manner. Overloaded or unevenly loaded trailers can pose a number of potential issues for the driver.
For instance, in a situation where the cargo is unevenly loaded to one side of the trailer, a sharp turn combined with the excessive weight on one side of trailer can cause a serious rollover and any vehicles next to or behind the commercial truck cam experience the serious aftermath of this type of crash.
The Need for Inspections and Maintenance
Like any vehicle on the road, commercial vehicles must be properly inspected, and regular maintenance must be performed. In the trucking industry, there must be consistent checks to ensure parts are not worn down and they are working properly.
For instance, brakes must be properly checked and aligned to prevent serious problems. Steering mechanics, the engine, and tires must also be checked. Overall, inspections and maintenance can be helpful in fixing any minimal problems that may exist.
When any of the regulations governing the trucking industry are violated by the trucking company, the truck driver, or another employee, it can cause serious collisions. And it is in these collisions where the size of the commercial truck can lead to catastrophic injuries.
At Kolker Law Firm, our Missouri truck accident attorneys work hard to help individuals who have been hurt when trucking industry regulations are violated. We work hard to hold negligent parties fully accountable for their actions and pursue justice on behalf of our clients.
When you’ve been injured in a large commercial truck accident, you deserve to have legal advocacy on your side focused on your best interests. We can be trusted to put your rights and best interests first, seeking the compensation you need to recover.
Call our firm today at (314) 684-8285 and speak with a lawyer about your potential case.