While truck drivers are often the immediate cause of accidents, trucking companies themselves can also be held legally responsible. Their policies, oversight, and compliance with safety regulations play a central role in accident prevention.
Truck drivers are the individuals directly operating commercial vehicles, and their actions are often the first factor examined when determining liability after a crash.
Fatigue is one of the leading human factors in truck accidents. Long hours on the road, demanding schedules, and insufficient rest put truck drivers at high risk of exhaustion, which can have deadly consequences.
Because of the enormous risks posed by impaired driving, federal law requires strict drug and alcohol testing for commercial truck drivers. These rules are central to ensuring roadway safety and accountability in the trucking industry.
Operating a commercial truck requires far more training and responsibility than driving a passenger car. The U.S. has established strict Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) standards to ensure only qualified and fit drivers handle large trucks.
Driver fatigue is one of the leading causes of truck accidents in the United States. To address this, the FMCSA enforces strict Hours of Service (HOS) regulations that dictate how long truck drivers can be on the road before resting.