FMCSA Federal Trucking Regulations
Commercial trucks are much longer and heavier than other vehicles, making them more difficult to navigate safely. Many commercial trucks also haul potentially dangerous or toxic chemicals and goods, which can pose a serious threat to human health if they’re transported without care.
As a result, trucking operations in the United States, while vital to its economy, can be pretty dangerous. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established federal trucking regulations to facilitate safe trucking practices.
The FMCSA’s federal trucking regulations affect nearly every aspect of the trucking industry – from driver hiring requirements to vehicle inspections to cargo requirements and limitations. If a trucking company or truck driver violates FMCSA safety regulations, they can be liable for resulting truck accidents, injuries, and/or deaths.
Truck Driver Qualifications
Driving a large commercial tractor-trailer, big rig, or 18-wheeler isn’t like driving your personal car. So, the FMCSA requires truck drivers to pass a series of written and practical tests to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) before they can legally operate a commercial rig on American roads.
Drivers must also obtain regular health screenings and submit to random drug testing throughout the year to demonstrate an appropriate level of fitness to drive their rigs.
Truck Maintenance and Inspection Requirements
FMCSA regulations require trucking companies to inspect vehicles for defects and dangers regularly, at least once every 12 months. Drivers are also required to conduct regular pre- and post-trip inspections to document the truck’s condition and to identify potential problems with the vehicle.
Truck Driver Behaviors
Since tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles can pose a more serious threat to motorists and pedestrians, truck drivers are held to higher standards than other motorists on the road.
FMCSA regulations on drivers include:
- Zero-tolerance policies for drug and alcohol use
- Hours of service limitations to reduce the risk of truck driver fatigue
- Reduced speed limits, especially in hazardous conditions
- Restrictions on the use of cell phones and other distractions at the wheel
Drivers must demonstrate a thorough knowledge of Illinois state and federal traffic safety laws and do their best to operate their vehicles safely.
Cargo Restrictions and Requirements
Federal trucking regulations instruct trucking services on safe cargo transportation practices.
- Trucks must be equipped with appropriate cargo securement devices and systems to hold goods in place when the vehicle decelerates and accelerates
- Truck operators must use a minimum number of tie-downs to secure cargo, depending on the cargo’s length and/or weight
- Trucks must not exceed maximum weight limits when fully loaded
- Dangerous goods can only be transported when a trucking company obtains a Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP)
When cargo is not secured properly, it can spill onto the road’s surface and/or alter the truck’s center of gravity, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident because a truck driver or trucking company violated FMCSA federal trucking regulations, call Taxman, Pollock, Murray & Bekkerman, LLC. The trucking service has to be held accountable for its mistakes and wilful violations of federal law.
Our Chicago truck accident attorneys have helped injury victims and families win more than $750 million for their medical bills, lost wages, property damage, disability, and pain and suffering. Now, you can benefit from having our award-winning Illinois trial attorneys fighting for you after a truck accident, too. Contact us for a free consultation today.