Hours of service rules are designed to ensure that truckers get plenty of rest and that Tennessee trucking accidents caused by fatigued truckers are less of a danger to motorists in Knoxville, Maryville and throughout the state. Unfortunately, the hours were extended during the Bush Administration, much to the chagrin of safety advocates.
Also at issue are the lack of mandated data recorders and other technologies that can automatically record a trucker’s service hours and keep them honest. Instead, hand-written log books are used in what is largely an honor system. Organizations like Road Safe America also argue for the need to stop paying truckers by the mile — pointing out an honor system regarding hours worked, combined with a system that pays by the mile, is a recipe for disaster.
A Tennessee trucking accident attorney should always be consulted whenever a motorist is involved in an accident with a semi or other large commercial truck on the road. Hours of service are just one measure of compliance that an experienced injury attorney will review as part of your accident claim.
With the holidays upon us, many truckers will be pushing themselves to the legal limit (and perhaps beyond), either to make up for lost time or to get home to family in time for the holidays.
In general, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established the following hours-of-service rules:
-11 hour driving limit after 10 hours off-duty (10 hour limit/8 hours rest for passenger-carrying vehicles).
-14 hour limit – May not drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty (15th hour for passenger vehicles).
-60/70 hour limit in 7/8 consecutive days. 34 hours of rest required to restart the cycle.
If you or a loved one is injured or killed in a trucking accident in Tennessee, contact Hartsoe Law Firm, P.C. for a confidential appointment to discuss your rights with our Knoxville injury lawyers and Maryville accident attorneys. Call (877) 472-5657.