Certain commercial drivers are told by their employers to drive longer than they feel comfortable with. All many employers care about is that the freight keeps moving and more money stays in their pockets. They often aggressively encourage their drivers to break Hours of Service regulations, putting their drivers’ safety and commercial licenses at extreme risk.
The Impact of Unrealistic Schedules
Federal limits on driving hours exist specifically to keep the roads safe. But those critical limits are not always followed. Drivers who face unrealistic corporate schedules are significantly more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors. They are far more likely to speed, ignore Hours of Service limits, keep driving even when they are completely exhausted, and drive recklessly through bad weather conditions.
Understanding the Federal Limits
To prevent exhausted truckers from causing pileups, the federal government mandates strict driving limits known as Hours of Service regulations. These rules place an absolute cap on how long a driver can operate a commercial vehicle before taking a mandatory rest period. The problem of highway fatigue can only be solved if trucking companies actively commit to drivers’ safety rather than corporate profits.
Our attorneys do not rely on the truck driver’s word regarding their rest periods. We forensically audit the driver’s Electronic Logging Devices and cross reference this digital data with time stamped fuel receipts. By proving the driver and the trucking company actively violated federal limits, we establish undeniable corporate negligence for your claim.