If you would like to discuss a truck accident you or a family member was involved in, please visit the website of the truck accident specialists at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C., serving clients in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas.
Because of the significant size and weight of 18-wheeler trucks, stringent federal and state trucking regulations are in place to govern their use. The primary goal of these laws is to ensure the safety of both the drivers of the large trucks and the people in the other vehicles on the road around them.
Federal Regulations
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) trucking regulations apply to trucks and truck drivers in every state. Here are a few of the most important federal regulations:
- All tractor-trailer rig drivers must have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL). To qualify for a CDL, a driver must be 21, complete special training and pass CDL exams.
- For drivers who haul hazardous materials, there are additional requirements and a special class of CDL required.
- “Hours of Service” regulations are also in place, which mandate how many consecutive hours a truck driver can be on the road, and how many hours between driving stretches are needed as a break. This is to prevent unrealistic truck driver schedules and driver fatigue. Drivers are required to keep a log of their driving time to verify these hours.
- Commercial trucks and trucking companies must carry adequate levels of insurance coverage, depending on their cargo.
- Federal regulations also govern the behavior of truck drivers on the road. For instance, a driver cannot possess alcohol or drugs while driving or performing inspections.
State Regulations
Each state has its own trucking laws, which are additional regulations that must be followed while a truck is being driven in that state. State regulations can be stricter than federal laws in some cases.
- For example, in Maryland, the state’s DOT requires drivers of vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 lbs. to have a DOT medical card, indicating the drivers have passed a physician’s examination.
- In Virginia, the state DOT has additional local restrictions on the lengths of 18-wheelers and other commercial trucks driven on state highways.
- The District of Columbia, like many metro areas, requires special permits to be displayed for oversized loads and mandates that escort vehicles be used in some cases.
- Many states also have specific preventative maintenance standards for commercial trucks that are above and beyond what is required at the federal level.
If you are interested in finding out more about commercial trucking regulations, or would like to discuss a truck accident you or a family member was involved in, please visit the informative website of the truck accident specialists at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, & Siegel P.C., serving clients in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas.
- Related Videos
- Related Articles
- Ask / Related Q&A
The Finest San Diego Elder Abuse Attorneys Available
By: Berman & Riedel, LLP | 02/12/2009If you are an elderly person and feel you have been abused, or perhaps your elderly friend or relative has been abused, San Diego elder abuse attorneys can assist you and provide a level of support needed. Unfortunately, elder abuse can occur anytime: in an individual’s home, in doctor’s office, in assisted living care or even in reputable institutions. It is essential to know and understand how you can help yourself or someone you know who is experiencing such terrible adversity.
Landmark MRGO Lawsuit Decision A Win for Hurricane Katrina Flooding Victims
By: Laurie Villanueva | 01/12/2009A landmark ruling in a Hurricane Katrina lawsuit means that thousands of Louisiana flood victims could be eligible for compensation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The ruling involved the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, also known as MRGO.
How To Get Ex Back
By: Jo Carreg | 01/12/2009Look around and you will see lots of couple going through break-ups and patch-ups. What is more surprising is that a lot of these patch-ups are actually temporary and if you visit them after some
Cancer Misdiagnosis
By: Ayesha Salim | 01/12/2009Cancer is a disease that cannot be pinned down to one solitary origin. There are a variety of factors which may help amplify the likelihood of an individual developing the disease. Your genes, general lifestyle, or even the surroundings may all donate to increasing the chances of budding the disease.
Industrial Deafness Claims – Taking Steps to Claiming Compensation
By: Sean Butcher | 01/12/2009Most people don’t believe that they will ever go deaf. As arguably the body’s most important sense along with sight – the ability to hear what is going on around us is something we often take for granted. However, many who work in loud environments at work find they begin to lose their hearing – through no fault of their own. This is when industrial deafness claims can be made.
Claiming in a Sports Injury
By: Ayesha Salim | 01/12/2009Playing sport can be truly fun but can sometimes also be hazardous. Some injuries are non-preventable due to physical contact and lapses in judgement by players. Therefore there is a normal perceptive of the risks concerned between the players.
Life Jackets Save Lives In Florida Boat Accidents
By: Joseph M. Maus | 01/12/200985% of all fatalities in Florida boat accidents are due to drowning, and the majority of those deaths could have been prevented if the victim was wearing a life jacket.
Fatal Auto Accidents
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009If someone you love has died from a fatal auto accident, the loss can be overwhelming. However, you are not alone. Automobile crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in around 40,000 lives lost every year according to the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Cosmetic Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
By: Erich Shrefler | 01/12/2009 | Dental CareHaving a bright, white smile is a primary goal of most people seeking help from a cosmetic dentist. Stained or dingy teeth can be concealed easily by these thin ceramic covers.
Causes of TMD
By: Erich Shrefler | 01/12/2009 | Dental CareTemporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is one of the most common chronic pain complaints among Americans, affecting approximately 5 to 12 percent of the population. Women are twice as likely to develop TMD as men are.
Been Caught Stealing, Now Get a Lawyer
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | CriminalThe economic downturn has been difficult for many, hard on some, and brutal on a few. Loss of a job or a home, or simply the threat of losing either one, can be scary, but can also drive people to making serious errors in judgment, such as theft.
Arrested for Drunk Driving
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | CriminalYou should know by now that a DUI arrest is a serious spot to be in. Even if you believe you were fine to get behind the wheel and drive, the law sees it differently. They see you as someone who put other lives in danger and broke the law.
A Drug Arrest Needs a Good Defense
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | CriminalMillions of people have experimented with illegal drugs. Out of these millions, some are arrested and charged with the crime of possession. If you have been arrested and charged for a drug offense, a good defense attorney can make all the difference in the world. It may even be the difference between freedom and prison.
Fatal Auto Accidents
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | Personal InjuryIf someone you love has died from a fatal auto accident, the loss can be overwhelming. However, you are not alone. Automobile crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, resulting in around 40,000 lives lost every year according to the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Rollover Accidents
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | Personal InjuryTrucks and SUVs have become popular in recent years, partly because many drivers believe they are safer in serious accidents because of their size. However, statistics indicate that SUVs especially are more likely to roll over in serious accidents.
Asbestos Litigation
By: Erich Shrefler | 30/11/2009 | Personal InjuryAsbestos litigation makes up one of the largest subsets of claims in the field of personal injury law. In fact, it represents the longest running mass tort in our country’s history. In the past 50 years, there have been hundreds of thousands of individual and class action asbestos lawsuits filed in the United States.