How are trucks and truck drivers enforced by safety regulations?

Question:  Which federal agencies regulate trucking safety and how is it enforced?

Response:  If you have been involved in an accident with a commercial truck or common carrier, you should retain a personal injury attorney.  This litigation is more complex than simply asserting violations of federal and/or state trucking regulations – one must be able to prove each and every one of the several elements of common law negligence.

In general, the Department of Transportation  – through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) – sets and enforces the regulationswhich set safety standards for the design, manufacture, and operation of transportation equipment.   The FMCSA regulates the operations of private carriers (e.g., commercial licensing mandates, the number of hours a driver can work without rest, the interstate transport of chemicals and other hazardous cargoes, the training required for entry-level drivers, etc.).  The FMCSA requires a record be kept on the inspection and repair history of vehicles used in commercial carriage.  Information available on each trucking company from their website includes accidents/crashes reported from all states; insurance coverage limits; number of miles driven per year; penalties (each infraction is listed by date and location); and safety inspection results (each inspection is listed by date, vehicle number and location).

Answered by Jamilla Moore

Additional Resources: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

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