The federal rules truckers must follow
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) sets safety rules for interstate trucks. Breaking them can be strong evidence in your case.
Hours of service
Property-carrying drivers are limited in how long they can drive and be on duty. In general:
- No more than 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
- No driving after the 14th hour on duty.
- A 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving.
- Weekly limits of 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days.
Fatigue is a major cause of truck crashes, so the driver's logs are one of the first things we examine.
Electronic logging devices
Most interstate carriers must record duty status with an ELD instead of paper logs. The data can be compared with fuel receipts, GPS and dispatch messages.
Driver qualification
Carriers must check a driver's background and keep a qualification file, including a valid commercial license and medical certificate.
Drug and alcohol testing
Drivers are subject to pre-employment, random and post-crash testing in many situations.
Inspection and maintenance
Carriers must systematically inspect, repair and maintain their vehicles and keep records.