State law establishes truck-specific regulations that every commercial truck driver must follow in addition to standard traffic laws. However, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets and enforces most federal-level restrictions that govern truckers, regardless of their destination or route length.
If a truck driver or trucking company caused a traffic accident by violating federal trucking laws in West Jordan, you could work with an attorney to hold them civilly liable for damages resulting from the accident, just as you could for violations of state laws. These cases are often complex and require the assistance of a knowledgeable lawyer familiar with both state and federal regulations. Here are some of the most significant federal regulations that our trucking accident injury attorneys at Kramer Injury Law encounter.
What Are the Weight Limits for Tractor-Trailers?
Commercial trucks traveling on interstate highways or otherwise crossing state lines on a route cannot have a gross vehicle weight rating—meaning a total vehicle weight including the cab, trailer, and all cargo onboard—in excess of 80,000 pounds. Furthermore, federal regulations are such that no truck in West Jordan can put more than 20,000 pounds of weight on a single axle or more than 34,000 pounds of weight on one tandem axle group, assuming the truck’s total weight distributes evenly across all axles and axle groups.
Driving Time Restrictions
Federal trucking laws prohibit truckers in West Jordan from driving for more than 11 hours or being on shift for more than 14 hours in a single workday. There are also limits of 60 total working hours in any continuous seven-day period and 70 total working hours in any continuous eight-day period, as well as requirements for when and for how long drivers must take breaks during shifts.
Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing
FMCSA regulations require all trucking companies, including those in West Jordan, to conduct regular alcohol and drug screenings among their drivers, both for new hires and long-time employees. Additionally, those regulations consider truck drivers to be over the legal limit if they have a blood alcohol content of 0.02 percent or greater—so effectively, if they have any alcohol in their system at all.
No Texting and Driving
Federal laws prohibit truck drivers in West Jordan from reading, writing, or sending text-based electronic messages while driving, as well as from using any other function on a mobile communication device requiring more than a single button press to start or end a call. This is roughly equivalent to the prohibitions against texting and driving enshrined in state law and enforced against local traffic.
Call a West Jordan Attorney To Learn More About Federal Trucking Regulations
Although federal regulators clearly define and strictly enforce rules for commercial truck drivers, new cases appear almost daily of truckers or trucking companies causing accidents by knowingly violating those rules. Fortunately, breaches of federal trucking laws in West Jordan could serve as valid grounds for civil litigation, so long as you are able to prove the illegal act in question was the primary cause of your injuries.
Assistance from a knowledgeable legal professional could be key to establishing who is to blame for your recent accident and recovering compensation for the negative effects it will have on your life. Call Kramer Injury Law today to schedule an initial consultation with Attorney Ron Kramer and learn how he could help you.
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