New York Times Reports Trucking Regulations Routinely Broken
In doing some research on some of the recent Missouri tractor trailer accidents, we came across an interesting article from the New York Times.
In the article, which was published in December of 2006, the reporter discusses the merits of adjusting trucking regulations, which was the debate at that time.
Some government officials wanted the regulations to be less strict, saying that being too hard on trucking companies and their drivers would unfairly hinder business. They wanted to increase the amount of time drivers could be behind the wheel, among other regulatory changes.
The Times reporter then uncovers some pretty startling facts about the trucking industry. He talks about how some drivers have no respect for their logbooks, which are documents that must be filled out accurately to make sure regulations are not broken. Truckers often refer to theses logs as “comic books” and will falsely record the number of hours they’ve worked. The fines for these infractions are small and many drivers get away with this practice simply because the Federal Motor Carrier Agency can’t monitor all the logs.
Many drivers also complained that they often felt pressure from their company to drive longer hours on little rest, when accidents are most common.
The report also says that statistically, the actual number of tractor-trailer crashes each year is equivalent to what would happen if the aviation industry had 25 major airline crashes annually.
If you would like to read the full article, you can find it here.
Knowing that trucking regulations are so routinely ignored, it is easy to see why there are so many Missouri truck accidents each year. If you have been involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, the most important thing to do after exchanging information is contacting an experienced personal injury attorney.
The Bradley Law Firm has handled Missouri and Illinois trucking accidents for over 30 years. We know the laws of the trucking industry and how to uncover any negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation. Our lawyers will consult with you about your case and you’ll never receive a bill. We only get paid if we are successful on your case.
