Common Violations of Trucking Regulations
Every time a commercial truck hits the road, it carries more than cargo. It carries responsibility. Trucking regulations help prevent catastrophic crashes, but the results can be devastating when these rules are ignored.
Understanding the most common violations helps accident victims and their legal teams build stronger claims and hold negligent parties accountable.
Why Trucking Regulations Matter
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes trucking regulations to protect everyone on the road. The rules cover everything from how long a driver can be behind the wheel to how trucks are maintained and what training drivers must complete.
When companies or drivers violate these regulations, they put lives at risk and may be held liable if an accident occurs.
So why do these dangerous shortcuts continue despite clear regulations?
Common Violations That Lead to Truck Accidents
When truck drivers, or the companies behind them, cut corners on safety regulations, the consequences can be deadly. In 2023, Wisconsin had 6,562 large truck crashes, resulting in 72 fatalities and 1,665 injuries, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Here are some of the most common and dangerous violations putting drivers at risk on Appleton roads:
Hours-of-Service (HOS) Violations
Fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. That’s why the FMCSA limits how long drivers can be on the road without rest. However, in a rush to meet delivery deadlines, many drivers exceed these limits, sometimes with their employer’s encouragement.
Fatigued drivers are more likely to nod off, misjudge traffic, or react too slowly to avoid a crash.
Inadequate Vehicle Maintenance
Commercial trucks must be inspected regularly and maintained according to strict standards. Skipped inspections and delayed repairs are common violations.
Brake failures, tire blowouts, and steering malfunctions often result from this negligence, and all can cause deadly crashes. A poorly maintained truck is a ticking time bomb on the highway.
Improper Cargo Loading
Overloaded trucks or those with unbalanced or unsecured cargo are especially dangerous. Weight violations affect a truck’s braking and handling, while unsecured cargo can shift during transit, causing rollovers or falling debris.
FMCSA regulations dictate how cargo should be loaded and secured, but these rules are often overlooked to save time or money.
Driver Qualification Shortcuts
Driving an 80,000-pound truck requires specialized skills and physical fitness. However, some companies fail to verify a driver’s qualifications or ignore red flags like expired commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), insufficient training, or lack of a valid medical certificate.
These oversights can lead to serious accidents caused by inexperienced or medically unfit drivers.
Why These Violations Happen
The trucking industry is under intense pressure. Companies face razor-thin margins, driver shortages, and demanding delivery schedules. To cut costs or meet deadlines, some carriers skirt safety rules:
- Tight Deadlines: Delivery pressure leads to hours of service (HOS) violations and rushed loading.
- Driver Shortages: Hiring unqualified or undertrained drivers to fill seats.
- Cost Cutting: Delaying maintenance or skipping inspections to save money.
While these pressures are real, they do not excuse breaking the law or endangering others. Trucking companies can and should be held responsible when safety takes a back seat.
Tech Tools Aiming to Improve Compliance
Technology is playing a growing role in closing safety gaps in the trucking industry. When used properly, these tools can help companies stay compliant with federal regulations and prevent serious accidents.
Here are a few of the most effective tools trucking companies are using, or should be using to boost safety and accountability:
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs): These automatically track driving hours and rest periods to prevent HOS violations and reduce fatigue-related accidents.
- Telematics Systems: Installed in trucks, these systems monitor driver behavior, braking patterns, and vehicle maintenance needs, alerting companies to issues before they cause a crash.
- Automated Inspection Systems: Used at weigh stations or built into fleet management platforms, these tools detect maintenance issues in real time, helping ensure that trucks on the road are safe and compliant.
While helpful, these tools are only effective when companies commit to using them properly and not manipulating the data.
Proving Regulatory Violations After a Truck Accident
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, proving that the driver or company violated regulations can strengthen your legal claim. Here’s how an attorney can help:
- Reviewing Driver Logs: ELDs and manual logs can reveal HOS violations.
- Inspecting Maintenance Records: Gaps or inconsistencies may indicate skipped inspections.
- Analyzing Cargo Documentation: Bills of lading and load sheets may expose weight violations.
- Investigating Driver Backgrounds: A thorough review of licensing and training records can uncover critical red flags.
Violating FMCSA rules may constitute negligence per se, meaning the violation helps establish fault in many cases so you don’t have to separately prove that the driver or company was careless, just that they broke the rule and caused harm.
An experienced truck accident lawyer can gather and interpret this evidence to support your compensation claim.
Injured in a Truck Crash? Contact Our Appleton Truck Accident Lawyers
Trucking companies have teams of lawyers and insurance adjusters working to protect their bottom line. You deserve someone fighting for you.
At Brian Hodgkiss Injury Lawyers, our Appleton truck accident lawyers have the experience, resources, and determination to uncover violations and hold negligent drivers and companies accountable. Don’t wait to get the help you deserve after a truck accident.
Call us today for a free consultation to find out how we can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.