The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) puts in place a number of rules for anyone driving on the roadway as a commercial driver. These federal trucking regulations are hard rules that aim to limit the risks to others on the road with trucks. Whether you are a driver or the victim of a truck driver-caused accident, you need to know these regulations.
Victims of truck accidents can seek the advocate they need at Sargon Law Group. Our Phoenix truck accident attorney serves the entire Phoenix, Arizona, area.
What Are Federal Trucking Regulations?
The FMCSA federal trucking regulations cover several key things, specifically in relation to personal injury law and safety. The following are several of the most important areas to consider.
Hours of Service Rules for Federal Trucking Regulations
The FMCSA imposes an Hours of Service list of rules that cover when and how long a truck driver can be behind the wheel operating their vehicle. Specifically, these rules aim to reduce fatigued drivers that cause crashes.
Under federal law, a driver cannot be behind the wheel longer than 11 hours. This can only occur if the driver has been off duty for at least 10 hours prior to that shift. Drivers can operate their vehicle for up to 60 hours in a 7-day period or 70 hours in 8 days. If they reach these limits, they must then take 34 hours off. This restarts their time.
Safe Driving Standards
The FMCSA federal trucking regulations require drivers to meet all alcohol and controlled substance testing requirements. That is, as a commercial driver, they must submit to an alcohol and drug test when required. This includes:
- Prior to being employed by the trucking company or other business
- When there is reasonable suspicion to request a test
- After there is an accident
- Random drug testing
- Random tests for 50% of the company’s drivers when required
- Random alcohol testing for 10% of the company’s drivers
- Return to duty testing
Keep in mind that the blood alcohol content limit for commercial drivers under FMCSA regulations is 0.04%, which is much lower than the legal limit for non-commercial drivers. In situations where a driver is operating a vehicle under the influence, they may lose their job and commercial driving license.
Why FMCSA Federal Trucking Regulations Matter
When a truck accident occurs, police will inquire about the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Because so many trucks are on the roads today and they are working long shifts, it is critical to have some type of guideline in place to minimize the risk of injuries. These regulations aim to do that. Not only are these results required, but there must be documentation that the driver is getting enough time off in between shifts and proper and required state and federal random testing is complete. It protects everyone on the road.
What Happens When Federal Trucking Regulations Are Not Met?
When FMCSA federal trucking regulations are not met, this can increase the risk of an accident. If you are involved in such an accident, and you believe the driver caused your accident, contact Sargon Law Group. Let our truck accident attorney help you seek fair and full compensation for the losses you sustained due to the driver’s failure to abide by the law.