What Truck Drivers Are Responsible for on the Road

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Truck Accidents

A commercial truck driver should be aware of the proper functioning of their truck, any updates to city, state, and federal driving guidelines and laws, and the limitations put into place for driving time. These specific regulations are necessary due to the length of shifts truck drivers sustain and the heavy amount of cargo they carry.

There are limits on what roads a commercial motor vehicle can travel. According to the Illinois Secretary of State, federal law takes into account:

• vehicle weight on the Interstate System;
• the width of a vehicle on the National Network;
• the maximum length of a vehicle on the National Network.

It is important that all road rules and attention to vehicle maintenance are followed by truck drivers because when neglected, accidents can happen.

Earlier this year, a California man was involved in a fatal accident with a tractor trailer. His family filed a lawsuit alleging poor truck maintenance and a lack of experience on the part of the man driving the truck. They have requested a grading system for the trucking industry to rate the experience levels of drivers and the difficulty of roads traveled.

New federal regulations were released last year to increase safety, instituting a change to the hours of service truck drivers are allowed, including less consecutive drive time and more frequent breaks. A tired driver is a hazard on the road no matter the level of experience.

Trucking companies are responsible for the necessary training and implementation of regulations for all its truck drivers. When violations occur, responsible parties should be held accountable.

Being a victim of a motor vehicle accident of any kind can be a traumatic ordeal for all parties involved. If you or a loved one has suffered a personal injury as a result of a trucking accident in Illinois, contact a Waukegan motor vehicle attorney today.