New Rules for Truckers Focus On Safety
It has been almost a year since some very important changes were made to the Federal laws which regulate the work of commercial truck drivers. These changes were designed to reduce the number of fatalities which are caused by accidents involving commercial vehicles. It is estimated that between three and four thousand Americans are killed every year in accidents involving tractor trailers or other commercial vehicles.
Many serious and fatal accidents which involve commercial vehicles are caused by driver fatigue. The persistent problem of fatalities involving commercial vehicles and driver fatigue was an indication that the laws which regulated commercial drivers had to be changed. The changes which were made last July to the rules which govern commercial drivers aim to address the issue of driver fatigue. Regulators hope that the new rules will not only reduce the number of trucking accidents, but also improve the health of our nation’s truck drivers. Many truck drivers suffer from chronic health conditions like diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure due to the physical and mental demands of their job.
Under the new rules, which are often referred to as HOS or hours of service regulations, truck drivers may work a maximum of seventy hours per week. Previously, they were allowed to work as many as eighty two hours each week. In addition to this change, truck drivers are required to rest in between work weeks. Drivers must be off duty for thirty four consecutive hours between the end of one work week and the beginning of the next. Each thirty four hour “weekend” must include at least two periods of rest between 1AM and 5AM.
In addition to the weekly hours of service limitations, the daily limitations on working hours remain in force, just as they were prior to the rule changes. A truck driver can be behind the wheel for up to eleven hours a day, although they may work up to fourteen hours a day if some of the work takes place outside of the driver’s seat. Also, drivers must take a thirty minute break at some point during the first eight hours of each shift.
Since it is anticipated that not all drivers will adhere to the rule changes, the enforcement provisions of the rules include penalties for both drivers and their employers. These penalties are designed to remedy a persistent problem within the trucking industry, a pay structure which rewards drivers who push themselves to work long hours. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration believes that the rule changes will achieve their intended goals of reducing trucking accidents and improving driver health.
If you or someone that you love has been injured or killed in a collision with a tractor trailer or some other type of commercial vehicle, it is essential that you seek the assistance of attorneys who have experience in handling trucking accident cases. The skilled Tennessee Trucking Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC want to help you. When you tell us about the details of your trucking accident case, we will answer your questions, explain your options and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a consultation. 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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