There is no question that a big rig or a tractor – trailer takes much longer to stop than a passenger car or pickup truck. In fact, at highway speeds an 18-wheeler takes approximately 1/3 longer to come to a complete stop than a typical car. Variables such as the load and make up of […]
A commercial tractor-trailer is often called a “semi truck” or simply “semi” the origin of the term came from the recognition that the trailer had no front wheels and was unable to move itself. Hence, the semi trailer tag stuck and from that came the term “semi truck”. A typical trailer is about 53 feet […]
Some of the most important information about a truck wreck can come from the black box or event data recorder on most of the newer model 18 – Wheelers. Getting to the critical information before it is destroyed can be an important step by your legal representatives. Event data recorders typically show the speed of […]
The truth of the matter is that big rigs or semi trucks are so much larger and heavier than the other traffic on our Texas highways that an accident with a big rig is usually a very bad accident. A tractor can weigh up to 20,000 pounds without the trailer or a load. A tractor […]
At those times when you may become frustrated with what you believe to be the cumbersome and lumbering manner in which government business is conducted – As a truck accident lawyer, I invite you to visit the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website. It is a veritable wealth of up-to-date information on all things ‘transportation-related’ – […]
With the vast number of commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, big rigs, semi trucks, or tractor-trailers, many long-haul truckers need to pull off the road either to check their load, check out problems or park to sleep and rest. Unfortunately, truck drivers often do not comply with the rules that apply to parking a truck. Many […]
Recently, a Texas lawmaker introduced a bill that would allow overweight trucks to pay an $80 fee and enter the United States overweight without a fine. The purpose of the bill is to allow truckers from Mexico to avoid having to lighten their load before crossing into United States. Mexico allows heavier trucks on its […]
All of us have been on the highway and seen an “oversized load” either too high or too wide. Unfortunately, many times the big rig carrying the load causes damage to the highway, other vehicles or the infrastructure. A recent example of this occurred in Montgomery County, Texas yesterday when an 18 wheeler was carrying […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations in section 392.14 deal with driving in hazardous conditions. The regulations state: “extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction.” The regulations […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations provide instruction to truck drivers and how to stop their vehicle whether on the highway or on the shoulder of the road. The relevant section is 392.22 entitled Emergency Signals, the regulations provide: “Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped on the traveled portion of a highway or the […]
When a small car or a pickup truck pulls in front of a big rig or semi-truck to move forward in traffic, it makes one cringe. If the passenger car driver was aware of the increased stopping distance required to stop a commercial vehicle compared to a passenger car or pickup truck, they would never […]
Quite a few of the middle size to larger commercial trucking companies have gone to GPS tracking to reduce costs and retain control over their fleet. Many companies provide the hardware and software necessary to monitor a truck tracking system for the commercial trucking company. One of the areas in which GPS tracking helps reduce […]
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is charged with the responsibility of keeping our highways safe as far as motor carriers and commercial truck drivers are concerned. One of the ways that the administration regulates safety for truck drivers and motor carriers is to issue regulations that give a minimum level of safe conduct acceptable […]
It should come as no surprise that semi-trucks undergo the same rigors of recalls that other vehicles experience – any awareness of recalls would likely be relevant to semi-truck owners, trucking businesses or those who suffered injuries or fatalities related to these recalls. What follows are some recent recalls for semis and parts that will […]
The cell phone is in its infancy as a form of communication (let’s say – in comparison to the age old form of exchanging information – talking) yet I would venture to say that the usage of cell phones is nearly ubiquitous. We don’t just rely on them for conversation anymore but for any number […]
Statistics reveal that there is at least one fatality in 98% of accidents involving semi-trucks. Realistically, then, that means in any accident in which one of the vehicles is a semi-truck at least one person is killed. Moreover, there is an average of 130,000 persons injured in semi-truck accidents annually as well. Put in human […]
After a very serious accident that resulted in severe injury, many people have a hard time coping with the changes to their circumstances and their injuries. At that time, it is difficult for an injury victim to do anything let alone hire an attorney to represent them in the eighteen-wheeler accident. Yet, it is at […]
According to the national Highway Safety Administration, the agency is seeking to finalize some important regulations by the end of this year, which will include a requirement for seat belts on commercial buses. The original proposal for seatbelts on commercial buses has been long-delayed and met substantial resistance. While there are some issues to be […]
Statistics show that up to 32 million people a day travel by some sort of bus—be it a school bus, city bus, charter bus, or Greyhound. The minimum number of injury and fatality accidents seems to indicate that bus travel is relatively safe. Even so, there are measures that potential bus travelers can take to […]
Talk about your ‘no-brainers’. To ensure there would be ‘no room for confusion’ a representative of the Department of Transportation issued a notice recently that clarifies what already should be apparent: In no uncertain terms federal regulations prohibit the use of marijuana by commercial drivers in interstate commerce, even in states that permit use of […]
Commercial vehicles are obviously much larger than a typical passenger car or pickup truck, and they operate much differently. While a passenger car generally weighs 5000 pounds or less, a big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. The gross axle weight rating on a tractor-trailer is the maximum weight that an axle is designed […]
