5 Commonly Violated Truck Regulations in Missouri

Unfortunately, not all truck drivers and companies follow these regulations. This exposes pedestrians and other motorists to accidents and injury.

Most trucks are exceedingly large and often weigh 20 – 30 times more than other motor vehicles. Unfortunately, their sheer size and weight make truck accidents more disastrous and fatal. For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enacted special rules in addition to the standard traffic rules to govern trucking operations and protect other road users. However, not all truck drivers and companies follow these rules. As a result, pedestrians and other motorists are exposed to tragic truck-related accidents. Here are commonly violated truck regulations in Missouri to help you stay safe.

1. Size and Weight Regulations

If you’ve driven on Missouri’s interstates, there is a good chance you’ve seen weighing points on the highway. These are meant to ensure trucks don’t carry excessive loads, causing them to lose control and hurt other road users.

Sadly, despite this safety regulation, some Missourian truckers may exceed the 8,0000 pounds gross weight requirement and continually expose themselves and other road users to fatal truck accidents.

2. Alcohol and Drug Screening

Truck drivers are expected to be sober every time they’re behind the wheel. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. If a truck driver drives while intoxicated, their control and coordination are incredibly reduced, judgment is clouded, and their reflex is slowed down.

What’s more, some trucking companies may fail in their responsibility to regularly screen drivers for drug use and still allow impaired drivers on the road.

3. Hours of Service Regulations

Generally, truck drivers work for long hours. This may cause drowsiness, fatigue and impair their judgment on the road. Because of this, Federal and Missouri trucking laws require drivers to take a break after every shift and record the time spent on the road on a logging book or device. Regrettably, tight schedules and set targets often lead to truck drivers working overtime. This violation continually puts truck drivers and other drivers at risk of accidents.

4. Driver Hiring Regulations

Typically, hiring trucking companies must ensure a truck driver has a commercial driving license, pass the medical test, and has a clean driving record before hiring them. However, finding a driver that meets all the requirements is no easy task. As a result, the trucking company may bend or overlook essential rules to hire a driver and put an incompetent driver on the road.

5. Truck Inspection and Maintenance

The FMCSA regulations are very clear – trucks should be regularly inspected and maintained to address dangerous malfunctions that might lead to tragic collisions. Sadly, this is not always the case. A trucking company and its maintenance counterpart may put an unroadworthy truck on the road to meet tight deadlines. Doing so increases the likelihood of a trucking accident, especially if the underlying truck maintenance issue worsens.

Seek Legal Assistance

Have you been hurt in a Missouri truck accident? Our St. Louis truck accident attorneys have over 30 years of experience and can evaluate your claim for free. Give us a call 24/7 to learn more about your legal rights after a truck accident.