When drivers in New Jersey share the road with trucks and other large vehicles, there’s a certain expectation of safety. This is because there are rules in place that govern how well-maintained trucks have to be and how long drivers should be on the road per shift. A recent round of mass roadside inspection conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, or CVSA, resulted in nearly 12,000 trucks and buses being put out of commission. During the three-day event, more than 67,000 roadside inspections were conducted with the majority of them being Level I inspections.
The CVSA periodically conducts “inspection blitzes” as part of efforts to minimize the risk of truck accidents and improve vehicle safety. Approximately 20 percent of the trucks that underwent Level I inspections ended up being placed out of service. Altogether, nearly 4 percent of the drivers of the inspected vehicles were sidelined. More than 40 percent of the violations for drivers were for issues related to hours of service.
The top out-of-service violations for trucks involved brake system issues. This was followed by problems with tires and wheels, brake adjustment, how cargo was secured and lighting. Top out-of-service violations specific to drivers were hours-of-service violations, failure to have the correct class license, false record of duty status and driving with a suspended license. While more inspections were conducted than previous years, only a very small percentage of drivers were affected.
When truck accidents result in personal injuries, an attorney may take appropriate steps to obtain sufficient compensation for medical expenses, lost wages and other financial losses. A personal injury lawyer may also review vehicle inspection results and records specific to the truck driver involved with the accident to determine if fatigue from too many hours on the road or driver distractions like cellphone use or texting might have been contributing factors.