Do Trucking Companies Push their Truck Drivers to Break Some Laws?
Some trucking companies will pressure their employees to break national laws to bring in more profits for the company. Unfortunately, many companies are able to get away with this because truck drivers can only make an acceptable living wage after working extremely long hours or overtime.
Overworking truckers to the point of fatigue and coercing them to ignore safety rules heightens the chances that truck drivers will get into serious accidents, which puts all drivers on the road at risk. Several innocent victims are seriously injured or even killed in trucking accidents and deserve legal compensation for their pain and suffering. That’s why it’s important to work with a lawyer who can walk you through the steps of receiving a fair settlement.
Common Safety Violations Among Truckers
Trucking companies are in business for the main purpose of making money, just like most companies. Some trucking corporations, however, are so driven by profits that they are ruthless in their methods. These companies will try to coerce their drivers into breaking the law to bring in more money for the business. Some money-hungry trucking companies may even promise bonuses to drivers who can deliver large orders in record time. Other companies will encourage their drivers to skip safety evaluations and assessments and work extremely long hours, often over 20 hours per day, without proper rest or breaks.
It is also important to note that many of these trucking companies will spend a considerable amount of time lobbying against reforms and laws that would make truck drivers safer on the road. It is not uncommon for profit-driven trucking companies to fight against using GPS and other digital logging systems to ensure that truckers are not speeding and that the vehicles they are driving are properly maintained.
Why Trucking Companies Pressure Drivers to Break the Law
It’s not always easy for truckers to simply refuse to break safety laws when their employers are encouraging them to do so. Many drivers are independent contractors and are responsible for paying the lease on their trucks. After covering the lease, many truckers don’t have enough funds to take care of themselves and their families. Some trucking companies use this as a way to manipulate drivers into working long hours and ignoring safety inspections, putting other drivers’ safety at risk in the process.
Some trucking corporations also focus on hiring new and inexperienced drivers who have not received sufficient training. The lack of experience and appreciation for a job opportunity could stop new truckers from speaking up and refusing to engage in illegal actions.
Trucking Violations Put Everyone’s Safety at Risk
Trucking safety regulations are based on years of detailed research from highway safety specialists. For instance, the amount of hours a trucker can work helps the driver stave off fatigue and stay alert on the road. Research has shown that drowsy driving is one of the main causes of trucking accidents.
Almost 5,000 large trucks were involved in deadly accidents in 2017. this was also the year that more than half (54%) of accidents involved speeding. Distracted driving was the second leading cause of accidents. These unfortunate incidents occur more often when trucking companies continue to force workers to disregard the speed limit and work extremely long hours to meet company quotas. Once truckers are aware of the laws and discover that their companies are encouraging them to break safety laws, they can document and report these incidents to the proper authorities.
Seek Legal Counsel
If you live or work in the Gary area and have been involved in a truck accident and have sustained injuries or damages, ask a truck accident attorney in Gary for assistance. A qualified lawyer can review all aspects of your case and give you the tools you need to present all necessary evidence in court to prove your case. With the right Gary-area lawyer on your side, you have a greater chance of receiving the compensation you deserve to cover your medical bills and living expenses after a truck wreck.
Michael Hawkins
When it comes to educating the public on legal matters, few people are as determined as Michael Hawkins. From discovering issues of interest that concern all of us to offering actionable articles and guides to those in need, Michael is relentless in his journey of helping people make sense of the legal system. With dozens of pieces published in magazines, news outlets, and online journals, Michael is here to translate legalese into plain English so you can understand your rights and make the system work in your benefit.
