July Marks the One Year Anniversary of Significant Changes to Trucking Industry Regulations
This July marks the one year anniversary of major changes to the federal regulations which govern the trucking industry. The rule changes were, among other things, intended to reduce the number of trucking accidents caused by drowsy truck drivers through reductions in the total amount of hours that a driver can work each week, mandated “weekend” rest periods, and other such measures.
Unfortunately, the number of trucking accidents, including fatalities, remains high. According to reports from both trucking companies and truck drivers alike, the rule changes may not be having the intended impact because they have had unintended consequences. One rule change keeps truckers off of the road between one and five in the morning on their rest days, which seems like it would serve the purpose of encouraging good sleep habits. However, regardless of what impact that rule has had on drivers’ sleep, it has resulted in more truck traffic during the other hours of the day.
There have recently been a number of fatal accidents involving tractor trailers rear-ending cars that were stopped in traffic or moving slowly because of slow-moving traffic. This illustrates one unintended effect of having more trucks on the road during times when traffic is heavy. Before the rule changes took effect, drivers were able to plan their work schedules and rest breaks around times when the roadways are full of commuters. The changes in the rules took away some of the discretion that drivers were able to use in planning their routes.
To that end, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine has proposed that last year’s rule changes be suspended until information about the impact of those rules during the first full year after their passage can be reviewed and analyzed. Truckers and trucking companies are also trying to get the rules pushed back, as they feel that truckers drive more safely when they have more control over when they drive and when they sleep.
There are many people outside of the trucking industry that argue that it would be dangerous to roll back the hours of service limitations which have taken so long to become law. Some people have been advocating for tighter hours of service rules for twenty five or more years, often as the results of personal losses or tragedies involving tired truckers. Unfortunately, fatigue is often not reported as the cause of an accident, because it is difficult to prove after the fact. Of course, drivers are unlikely to report that they were tired, or that they fell asleep, because they would be found to be at fault. Trucking companies also downplay or deny claims that re trucking accidents result from fatigue than the average person would know.
Whether the accident that injured you or killed someone that you love was caused by drowsy driving, substance abuse, or some other factor, you can protect your rights by speaking with a Tennessee Trucking Accident Attorney right away. The knowledgeable attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case. At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.
Since graduating magna cum laude in 2005 from the University of Memphis School of Law, Thomas has helped make a difference in the lives of victims of serious personal injury, wrongful death, and professional negligence. Thomas has extensive trial experience in both state and federal court. Among other victories in the courtroom, Thomas obtained several impressive jury verdicts and settlements
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