A study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board discovered that out of 107 truck wrecks, <em>fatigue was a major factor in 75 percent of the accidents.</em><br /><br />An important provision in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act limits the hours truck drivers can operate a commercial tractor trailer, 18-wheeler, big rig, etc. The purpose of the law is to help reduce the number of truck accidents that stem from tired and/or fatigued truck drivers.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/fmcsr/fmcsrruletext.aspx?chunkKey=090163348002396e">Part 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act </a>states that no motor carrier company shall permit or require any driver to:<br /><br /> <ul> <li>Drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty</li> <li>Drive after the end of the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off duty</li> </ul> <br />But the more miles truckers drive, the more money they make. <br /><br />Regulators should consider mandating every commercial truck company use an automatic on-board recording device which will log the hours a truck driver works. Under current law, it's up to the truck company whether or not they use this type of device. <br /><br />So, as truck injury lawyers we want to obtain the log books, trip logs, GPS records, fuel records, everything possible to determine if the truck driver or compnay violated the hours of service regulations. Regulatory violations are direct proof of negligent conduct.<br /><br />Some truck drivers may alter the hours they put in the log to ensure they get more time on the road to make more money. Regardless, it's up to the truck company to enforce the Hours-of-Service regulations, but many don't. <br /><br />In fact, some companies look the other way, or even encourage their drivers to stay on the road longer than they should. <br /><br />If you have a trucking accident question, go to our law firm main website and fill in a contact form or call our toll ...
