Maximum Driving Time for Commercial Truck Drivers
Violating FMCA Regulations
In accordance with the federal law, truck drivers are not permitted to drive past certain hours of operation when carrying property or passengers. Property carrying commercial vehicles, such as 18 wheelers or big rigs, must abide by these laws for the safety of their own lives and for those around them. When a truck driver acts negligently and fails to pull off the road and rest after driving a certain amount of consecutive hours, they are more likely to cause accidents that result in serious injury and even death. The law regarding the maximum driving time for commercial truckers is as follows:
- A truck driver may not drive more than eleven hours total or past the fourteenth consecutive hour after ten hours off-duty.
- A truck driver may not driver after sixty hours on duty in a seven consecutive day period, or after seventy hours in an eight consecutive day period.
- A truck driver may only begin another seven or eight day work period after taking at least thirty-four consecutive hours off-duty.
The reason that these laws, set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCA), are so strict is due to the fact that truck driver negligence and fatigue play a large role in many
commercial truck accidents. Studies conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board have shown that driver fatigue actually plays a role in over half of all truck accidents. Additionally, the risk of a truck accident doubles between the eighth consecutive hour of operation and the tenth consecutive hour, and once again between the tenth and eleventh hour of driving.
Truck Accident Lawyer in Kansas City, MO
If you have been involved in a truck accident caused by a tired or distracted truck driver, speak to a Kansas City injury lawyer right away. At Wendt Goss, P.C., our team has a thorough understanding of the law surrounding truck accident cases and all other types of
car accidents. We can use the information recorded on a truck's electronic on board recorder (EORB), or the "black box," if the truck has this available. We will use all evidence to produce an effective strategy that can help you pursue the compensation you rightfully deserve.
For more information, contact a Kansas City truck accident attorney at our firm!