Truck drivers have the support of the current administration in their fight for decreased work hour regulations.
Under the current system, truckers are required to follow strict “Hours of Service” regulations, which establish limits on the amount of time a driver can be on-duty, and drive their truck, in a particular period.
The current regulations that are in place, created by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), state that property-carrying truck drivers are limited to 11-hour driving periods. Once a driver reaches their 11-hour limit, they must remain off duty for at least 10 hours before they can start driving again. All truck drivers must report their work times, and any known violations of the Hours of Service regulations will result in penalties including fines, suspension, and other disciplinary measures.
The regulations were established to combat the issue of driver fatigue, which is one of the most common factors involved in truck accidents. People who oppose lightening regulations cite the number of collisions that are caused by sleepy truck drivers in their arguments.
On the other side of the debate, truckers who wish for lifts on regulations believe drivers should be allowed to make their own decisions on rest times, and say the current rules that are in place can disrupt their trips by essentially forcing stops at inconvenient times.
The Trump administration has voiced support for more relaxed regulations in the trucking industry, and is expected to approve of longer allowed driving times.
Truck accidents caused by driver fatigue, intoxication, vehicle malfunctions, reckless driving, and other factors often result in severe injury or death for drivers and passengers in smaller vehicles. If you or a loved one was harmed in an accident involving a semi-truck, please contact Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC.
Our firm offers free consultations for injury victims in and around Charleston, South Carolina. Call (843) 968-0886 or submit your information to schedule your no-cost case analysis.