Now that I’ve discussed a few of the legal theories you can pursue in your truck crash case, I want to familiarize you with the federal laws and regulations that truck drivers and trucking companies are required to follow. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of major federal regulations that apply to all truck drivers and trucking companies. The regulations I discuss below are designed to increase safety in the trucking industry. It is only once these rules of the road are violated that you have a claim for negligence against the truck driver and trucking company.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has passed many trucking laws and regulations in an effort to promote safety in the trucking industry. Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations provides the laws and regulations that govern the entire trucking industry in the United States. These regulations can be found at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations. This chapter will discuss the major points of the federal trucking laws and regulations.

Licensing Requirements

Part 383 of the Code of Federal Regulations provides licensing requirements for truck drivers, as well as penalties for violating those requirements. Part 383 only allows truck drivers to have one driver’s license issued by their home state. The truck driver’s license will only be issued after the truck driver has successfully passed knowledge and skills tests. Hazmat carriers who transport hazardous materials are usually required to successfully complete additional tests before receiving a valid license.

When investigating your case, Burger Law always checks to make sure the truck driver had the appropriate licensing to operate their truck. If the truck driver was not licensed properly, Burger Law can point to this as evidence of negligence.

Special Training and Physical Requirements

Federal regulations require truck drivers to complete special training and pass physical examinations every two years. Part 382 prohibits truck drivers from reporting to work with a blood alcohol level of 0.02 or more. Part 382 also forbids truck drivers from carrying alcohol while driving, unless alcohol is part of the cargo. Truck drivers may not have alcohol or drugs that can impair driving abilities in the eight hours prior to a driving shift.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious crime. Truck drivers who operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs kill and seriously injure people. We investigate these claims very aggressively and get proof of the intoxication at the outset. WE get the evidence we need to present intoxication to the court – as sometimes prosecutors cut plea deals with drunk or intoxicated drivers and it can be hard to get that evidence later. If a impaired truck driver causes a crash, they, and the truck company, can be liable for punitive damages, which obviously increases the value of the case. We investigate all aspects of truck crashes – which includes investigating whether the truck driver was impaired by alcohol in violation of Part 382 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Remember that post-crash testing is required:

Each employer is required to test each surviving driver for alcohol and controlled substances as soon as practicable following an accident as required by §382.303.

Hours of Service

The FMCSA has implemented new hours of service rules due to the rise in truck accidents resulting from driver fatigue. The new hours of service laws provide that truck drivers can drive a maximum of 11 hours in a workday of 14 hours maximum. Following these shifts, truck drivers are required to take a minimum of 10 hours off duty. Truckers must keep log books of the time spent at work and behind the wheel.

When we litigate these cases, we obtain truck log books and employment records to ensure that the truck driver did not work more hours than permitted by the hours-of- service rules. If the truck driver worked excessive hours or failed to properly log their hours, Burger Law will use this evidence to bolster your case.

We have used other methods to track hours too. Many trucks now have GPS or have central dispatch facilities that track their driving. We can get that GPS data and assess for hours-of-service violations or speed. When a truck driver violates the hours-of-service laws that constitutes a federal regulation violation and is good evidence of negligence. This also often shows a systemic problem with the trucking company – the driver and his company are driving tired and dangerous.

Regulations on Trucks and Trucking Companies

The FMCSA has passed regulations related to securing cargo and heavy loads to make the cargo more secure and reduce the chances of it becoming loose or falling off the truck. These regulations include provisions for tying down cargo and using securing devices. In addition, all trucks must display certain markings on the vehicle, including USDOT numbers and Hazmat markings, among others.

The FMCSA has also passed regulations that govern trucking companies and hazardous material carriers. These regulations include complying with USDOT safety rules by trucking companies, unfit carrier rules, hours of service logbook rules for companies, hazardous material rules, State Hazmat permission and registration procedures, and others.

As previously mentioned in Chapter 2, Burger Law can help you recover compensation not just from the truck driver, but from the trucking company as well. Burger Law always conducts a detailed investigation into the policies and procedures of the trucking company to make sure no negligent action goes undiscovered. If the trucking company failed to comply with the safety rules mentioned above and that failure contributed to your injuries, Burger Law will expose the failure and use it against the trucking company in your case.

Electronic Code of Federal Trucking Regulations

The bulk of federal regulations concerning tractor trailers can be accessed through the following index: