Federal Government Axes State Requirement For Truckers

Posted By The Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno, P.C. Posted in: Truck Accident.

02-February-2019

Truck drivers have incredibly demanding jobs. That is why California thought it would be a good idea to bring issues like mandatory breaks into the mainstream for the industry. Just about anywhere you go, and in any state, employers are required to offer break and mealtime for workers who operate a certain amount of hours. That is not the case with truck drivers.

California changed that, mandating that truckers must get proper rest and meal breaks, just like workers at regular, non-trucking firms. This means that workers get meal breaks for shifts over five hours and 10-minute rest breaks every four hours. While that law still applies to truckers who work only in California, the Federal Motor Carrier Administration has ruled that nobody else has to abide by those regulations, even if they are driving in and out of California.

They say that it is cutting into driver productivity and company profits.

At the Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno, we are not sure what this will mean for driver safety, but we know that truck accident can be devastating. If you need a San Diego truck accident attorney, you can count on us to be by your side, fighting to secure the compensation you deserve.

Why They Happen

Safety is the most important thing to be considered when it comes to large truck operations. We know that the blame for many accidents involving large trucks is due to the following:

Driver negligence (87%)
Vehicle failure (10%)
Environmental factors (3%)

Vehicle Failure

It is so important that these trucks are regularly inspected and maintained. Due to their size and weight, anything that goes wrong while the vehicle is moving at a high speed can lead to catastrophic injuries. We know that the most common problems with these vehicles have to do with:

Tire or wheel blowouts
Brake failure
Suspension issues
Connection problems between truck and trailer
Steering system

However, vehicle failure is not the only factor to blame for these accidents.

Driver Issues

Truck drivers have a huge responsibility when they are on the roadways. They should be highly trained and follow all regulations set forth by state and federal law. This includes limits on how many hours they can drive each day as well as how much weight they can carry at a time. We also know that under no circumstances should a driver be:

distracted by their phones or other devices
impaired by drugs or alcohol

If You Get Hurt

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a large truck and you think the driver or truck company was at fault, seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Eugene G. Bruno, we understand the complexities involved in these cases and will work to secure compensation for the following: