All commercial truck drivers and trucking companies must follow safety and operating rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These federal regulations for truck drivers are intended to preserve the safety of everyone on the road and cover driving time, vehicle weight, training, and electronic logging of vehicle movements.
After a commercial truck crash, a Kansas City truck accident lawyer will typically review whether the driver or trucking company complied with FMCSA regulations. Federal motor carrier safety rules often play an important role in how a claim is assessed.
What are the federal regulations for truck drivers?
Federal regulations for truck drivers set minimum safety standards for commercial motor vehicle operation across the United States. These rules apply to drivers, carriers, and fleet operators involved in interstate commerce.
FMCSA regulations cover driving time, rest periods, vehicle weight limits, driver qualifications, and recordkeeping requirements. Compliance with these rules is mandatory, and violations can have serious safety and legal consequences.
Hours-of-service (HOS) rules
HOS rules limit how long commercial drivers can work and drive without rest. These rules are intended to reduce crashes related to driver fatigue.
Under current FMCSA regulations, most property-carrying drivers may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour on-duty window, after taking 10 consecutive hours off duty. Drivers must also take a 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving time. Weekly limits restrict drivers to 60 or 70 on-duty hours over seven or eight days, depending on the carrier’s operating schedule. Violations of HOS rules may point to unsafe driving practices or inadequate carrier oversight.
Alcohol and drug regulations
Commercial drivers are subject to stricter alcohol and drug standards than non-commercial motorists. A commercial driver is considered impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04%, which is half the legal limit for most private drivers.
FMCSA regulations also require pre-employment, random, post-accident, and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing. Positive tests or testing failures may indicate regulatory violations that affect liability after a crash.
Vehicle weight and cargo requirements
Federal regulations limit the weight of commercial vehicles operating on public highways. Most tractor-trailers may weigh up to 80,000 pounds under federal law, depending on axle configuration and roadway restrictions.
Drivers and carriers are responsible for ensuring cargo is properly loaded and secured. Improper weight distribution or unsecured loads can affect braking, steering, and rollover risk, increasing the likelihood of a serious collision.
Electronic logging devices (ELDs)
Most commercial drivers must use electronic logging devices to track hours-of-service compliance. ELDs automatically record driving time, duty status changes, and limited location data based on federal requirements.
While ELDs are not designed to replace full vehicle data systems, they can provide important insight into whether a driver exceeded permitted driving hours or failed to take required breaks before a crash.
Licensing and training requirements
Commercial drivers must hold a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) appropriate for the type of vehicle they operate. Additional endorsements and training are required for certain cargo, including hazardous materials.
Trucking companies are responsible for verifying driver qualifications, monitoring compliance, and providing appropriate supervision. Gaps in training or oversight may contribute to regulatory violations.
How do FMCSA regulation violations strengthen my truck accident case?
Many FMCSA regulations are intended to prevent driver negligence that can cause a wreck, so identifying instances where the trucker, trucking company, or both violated these federal rules establishes a foundation of negligence in your case. Proving that the driver, carrier, or both failed to meet industry standards supports your claim.
Trucking companies know that they could be in a lot of trouble for failing to properly supervise their drivers or tacitly allowing them to violate FMCSA regulations. Some carriers set tough delivery schedules; meeting them often means the driver must operate outside permitted HOS. Records may be incomplete or inconsistent, making early legal review crucial.
The trucking company’s records, including fleet maintenance records and employment records, are also vital to determining whether FMCSA violations played a role in the collision. Your lawyer can subpoena and review these records, too, as part of their case-building.
Get the legal help you need after a semi-truck crash
Federal trucking regulations set clear standards for commercial transportation safety; any violation of these rules by the driver or carrier can strengthen your claim against them, as long as the evidence of regulatory violations is properly presented in your case.
At Langdon & Emison, we help people injured in truck accidents understand how federal safety regulations apply to their case. We review FMCSA compliance to determine whether regulatory violations may have contributed to a crash. Our role is to explain what the evidence shows and how those findings may affect your legal options.
If you’ve been hurt in a commercial vehicle accident and need help getting treated fairly in the claims process, talk to us. Give us a call at (866) 931-2115 or contact us online for a free consultation.
