The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) gets the word out about the expectations for truck drivers in the United States. California enforces these laws and punishes truck drivers and their employers who don’t follow them.
One such mandate involves the drivers of big rigs and the amount of time they can drive in a week before having to stop. Commercial truck drivers carrying goods and property can spend only a certain amount of time at the wheel over a seven-day period before they are forced to pull over and take a long break. This break is meant to keep truck drivers fresh for their important jobs and to prevent frightening accidents.
Weekly Drive-Time Limits for California Truck Drivers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that truck driver fatigue may be a contributing factor in 30 to 40 percent of big rig accidents.
It’s undeniable that drivers who don’t get enough rest and sleep are more likely to make mistakes in the lanes. A lack of rest is especially dangerous when it comes to large trucks, because drivers are behind the wheel of larger, heavier vehicles that can do much more damage than smaller cars and SUVs. Their best focus on the road is also needed to be able to make quick decisions and brake faster, seeing how it takes more time and more distance to safely stop a giant truck.
The FMCSA explains the driving hours limit on its website:
Property-carrying drivers… “may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.”
Basically, drivers who have driven 60 hours over a week’s time, or 70 hours over an 8-day period, can’t drive again until they get a required rest break. Truck drivers are forced to take at least 34 consecutive hours off before being able to reset their weekly driving limit.
Truck drivers who choose to skip this mandated time off from the road and falsify a logbook to make it look like a break was completed face stiff punishment. The driver could be hit with fines and penalties. The driver’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) might also be in jeopardy.
A trucking company can also be found liable for a violation. The corporation that employs the driver might be shown to have pressured the driver to stay on the road. A company could have also known about a driver skipping a break and decided to overlook it. The truck driver’s employer could also face fines and penalties.
Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer
If you were hurt in an accident and you think a fatigued truck driver was to blame, you should contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer. It’s the best way to ensure that a truck driver and a trucking company are held responsible for all of your recovery costs.
If you are a truck driver who has an employer who forces you to break Hours of Service regulations, it’s a good idea to talk to a California Employment Lawyer. A lawyer can help you collect evidence and protect you if an employer tries to retaliate against you.
