In an effort to reduce the number of truck accidents, Congress passed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act in the year 2000. These comprehensive regulations apply to motor carriers and truck drivers that work interstate or are registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation. Similar California regulations apply to truck drivers that do not leave the state of California. The purpose of these regulations is to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses.
People Covered by FMSCA Regulations
The regulations cover both motor carriers and the individual drivers, as well as any other person or business that is involved in interstate commercial trucking. Those covered by the regulations include:
- Drivers
- Hiring managers
- Trainers
- Supervisors
- Managers
- Dispatchers
- Any other people involved in interstate commercial trucking
Some Major Components of FMSCA Regulations
The regulations include rules for motor carriers regarding the training and supervision of truck drivers. Truck drivers must be properly trained to drive and maintain trucks. Drivers that operate especially long trucks or transport hazardous materials must attain additional qualifications. There are also rules governing how many hours truck drivers can drive each day and each week. Driver fatigue is a major cause of accidents, and these rules are intended to limit drowsy driving among commercial truckers.
Victims of Truck Accidents Need Qualified Legal Help
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a truck accident, it is important to consult with an experienced truck accident lawyer that is familiar with FMSCA regulations. When these regulations are violated and an accident occurs as a result, the motor carriers or drivers responsible owe victims compensation. If you would like more information about this issue, please contact us.