The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations provide instructions on stopping big rigs and how truck drivers can properly stop their vehicles, 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 […]
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 responsible for ensuring the safety of our highways, particularly for motor carriers and commercial truck drivers. One of the ways the administration regulates safety for truck drivers and motor carriers is by issuing Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, which establish a minimum level of safe conduct acceptable to […]
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. Retaining an attorney, specifically retaining an eighteen wheeler accident attorney, can be crucial at that time. It is difficult for an injury victim to do anything, let alone hire […]
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency is seeking to finalize several important regulations by the end of this year, which will include a requirement for seatbelts 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 […]
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 significantly larger than a typical passenger car or pickup truck and operate in a distinctly different manner. While a passenger car generally weighs 5000 pounds or less, a big rig can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Understanding big rigs requires an examination of how they operate. A tractor-trailer’s gross axle weight rating […]
Large, gigantic trucks, such as 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers, are primarily used to transport heavy cargo or materials from one location to another. Similarly, a large truck is a vehicle that weighs 10,000 pounds or more. Overloading – truck accidents can occur when commercial drivers or truck drivers fail to properly secure the load or cargo […]
A dump truck driver who was convicted on several charges over the 2010 wrongful deaths of four motorcyclists was recently sentenced to twenty-six years in jail. The professional driver was convicted of manslaughter, aggravated assault and endangerment according to reports. Apparently the truck driver ran over several motorcycle riders who were stopped at a red […]
Truck accidents are on the rise in the US, especially in states like Texas and Florida. Each state has its own rules and regulations pertaining to such truck-related accidents, but most have adopted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. Therefore, victims of truck accidents need to be able to search for the best truck accident […]
Well, over one hundred cars were involved in a pile-up on Interstate 10 outside of Beaumont, Texas. Two vehicles crashed in what was described as dense fog, leading to a massive multiple-vehicle crash. The chain reaction resulted in a stretch of cars and eighteen-wheelers that was over 1 mile long. Reports indicate that up to […]
Improperly secured or shifting loads on semi-trucks (and other vehicles) that come loose can – and in many cases, have – caused property damage, injury, and even deaths. Big Rig Loading Accidents are a serious concern on our roads. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there are an estimated 25,000 accidents annually across […]
With a growing economy, the number of transport companies has also grown during the recent decade. Information you need to know about truck accidents is that, unfortunately, serious injuries and fatal semi truck accidents have increased as well. However, it is worth noting that the rules of the road differ significantly for passenger cars and […]
A truck driver who was in an accident when he lost consciousness and struck a trooper has been deemed to be unfit to drive a commercial vehicle, according to reports. The DOT, through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, apparently has issued an order disqualifying the trucker from further driving commercial vehicles. The safety regulations […]
Almost from the moment a semi-truck accident occurs, the process of collecting evidence also begins. Law enforcement and accident reconstructionists collect accounts from eyewitnesses, video footage from any cameras in the area, and other available data in any format. Some of the most important data comes from the accident scene and the vehicles. Black box […]
The following are from reports of authentic events that had fatal results: *In one Midwest town 2 people were killed in separate accidents when a tire from a passing semi-truck went airborne and crashed into nearby vehicles. *In a town out west one of two semi-truck tires came loose simultaneously from a rig and bounced […]
