Tried And True Attorneys Standing Up For The Injured Since 1965

Photo of Craig R. Fishman
Photo of Craig R. Fishman

Tried And True Attorneys Standing Up For The Injured Since 1965

Longer driving hours for truckers

On Behalf of | Jul 10, 2019 | Truck Accidents |

New Jersey motorists may want to know that long-haul truck drivers may soon be allowed to drive longer without having to stop for a rest. The Department of Transportation has stated that it intends to relax the federal regulations that limit the number of hours truck drivers are able to work. This is a development that the trucking industry has been working towards for some time. Opponents of the move assert that loosening the regulations will weaken them to the extent that there will be fatigue-related safety hazards on the road.

Long-haul truck drivers are currently limited to driving no more than 11 hours during a 14-hour on-duty window. They are required to have 10 straight hours of being off duty before their on-duty period can start again. Truck drivers who plan to drive for over eight hours are required to have a 30-minute rest before the end of the initial eight hours.

If truck drivers do not comply with the federal regulations, they can be prohibited from driving for at least a day. Because the majority of truck drivers are paid for each mile they travel, they will be unable to earn money if they marked as out of service. Depending on how many days they are restricted from driving, it can have a negative impact on their income.

Truck accidents can result in catastrophic injuries to occupants of other vehicles, in large part due to the sheer size and weight of big rigs. If it can be determined that the crash was due to truck driver fatigue or other types of negligence on the part of the driver or trucking company, an attorney could of assistance in helping victims to seek appropriate compensation.

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