In January 2016 alone, there were 12,250 vehicles involved in US truck crashes. According to the Federal Motor Carriers Association, these accidents resulted in 256 fatalities and 5,299 injuries.

An immense number of state and federal laws regulating the trucking industry attempt to ensure safety on the road for all. This includes truck drivers, who may be unrealistically pushed by their employers and forced to work long hours or drive fatigued. Unfortunately, these vital safety measures are often ignored and accidents result.

Keeping Track of Trucks

Many of these mandates require record keeping, but some of this data can be destroyed after only a few weeks! In the event of an accident, in-depth and timely research is needed to determine if any of these rules have been ignored and if negligence was the cause.

Major Federal Trucking Regulations

All regulations must be followed to the letter along with any Salt Lake City, Utah trucking laws:

  • Alcohol and Drug Testing – 49 CFR 382
  • Commercial Drivers License (CDL) – 49 CFR 383
  • Safety and Fitness – 49 CFR 385
  • Financial Responsibility – 49 CFR 387
  • Motor Carrier Safety Regulations – 49 CFR 390.5
  • Driver Qualification – 49 CFR 391
  • Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles – 49 CFR 392
  • Parts – 49 CFR 393
  • Number of Hours a Trucker Can Drive – 49 CFR 395
  • Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance – 49 CFR 396

Legal Logbooks

Drivers and companies must record data in driving logs, which should show that drivers have not exceeded legal driving limits.

For example, driving time must not exceed a certain amount of continuous time:

  • Eleven hours total without ten continuous hours off
  • Fourteen hours total before having to take ten continuous hours off (including drive time and other work responsibilities)
  • Either sixty hours over seven days or seventy hours over eight days

After an accident with an 18-wheeler, the information contained in these logbooks could be essential to proving the trucker’s negligence. However, this information can be destroyed after only six months, making it important to act as soon as possible and contact Craig Swapp & Associates immediately.

Accident Register

The details of any accidents involving 18-wheelers must be documented. Trucking companies must keep the following data available for three years post-crash:

  • Driver’s name
  • Date and hour of crash
  • Injuries and fatalities
  • Presence of hazardous materials

Specific Salt Lake City, Utah Trucking Laws

The laws that govern trucking are incredibly specific and cover a wide range of topics. All of the regulations in effect have the aim of ensuring the safety of both the trucker and the other drivers on the road:

  • Minimum insurance requirements
  • Rig weight and length
  • Hazardous materials
  • Driver-led vehicle inspections
  • Driver physical exams
  • Mudflaps

Has a Trucking Accident Affected You?

Should legal action be necessary, it’s vital to know what records to look for and where to find them before valuable legal evidence is destroyed.

Play it safe. Get an attorney well-versed in both federal and Salt Lake City, Utah trucking laws.

Craig Swapp and Associates has handled many such cases and would be happy to speak with you about your concerns. We can guide you through the confusing legal process pertaining to large-truck crashes. Get started today by calling us at 1-800-404-9000.