Louisiana Trucking Accident

Trucking Safety: Federal Hours of Service Regulation

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the government body in charge of regulating commercial motor vehicles (CMV), which include tractor trailers. Among the hundreds of regulations they impose on CMV are hours-of-service regulations (HOS), which place limits on when and how long drivers of CMV are allowed to drive.

The FMCSA bases these regulations on scientific data that determines the amount of rest a truck driver should have in order to safely operate their vehicle. They work in conjunction with the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies and the National Institute for Occupational Safety. The goal of HOS regulations is to protect drivers and motorists from truck accidents that result from fatigue.

Hours-of-service rules

The following federal regulations are in place for 18 wheelers:

• An 11-hour driving limit: This stipulates that a driver may drive, at most, 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours of rest.
• A 14-hour limit: Under this regulation a driver, after coming on duty, cannot drive more than 14 consecutive hours after 10 straight hours off duty. Time spent off duty doesn’t extend the 14-hour period.
• 60/70-Hour On-Duty Limit: A driver may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 straight days. A driver is allowed to begin a new 7/8 consecutive day period only after 34+ straight hours off duty.
• Sleeper Berths: Sleeper berth provisions comprise their own long list of regulations on CMV drivers, but basically, those who follow the provision are required to take a minimum of 8 straight hours in the sleeper berth, in addition to a separate 2 consecutive hours in the sleeper birth, or off duty, or some combination of the two.

Despite the mandating of hours-of-service rules, thousands of people are injured or killed in Louisiana trucking accidents each year. This is because truck drivers, despite regulations, face financial incentives to bend the rules in order to deliver their freight on time or ahead of schedule. As a result they drive without adequate sleep and put everyone on the road at serious risk.

If you or a family member is the victim of a semi truck accident in Louisiana it is important to contact a truck accident lawyer right away. Your own insurance may not provide adequate coverage for the huge bills and loss of income that can result from a Louisiana trucking accident. Trucking companies’ insurers will pressure you to sign off on an inadequate settlement, often before you have had time to consult with an attorney. Do not let them bully you. Seek an experienced truck accident attorney who will fight hard to protect you and your family.