Florida Drivers Could Be At Risk When Commercial Drivers Violate These Trucking Laws

When Florida drivers get on the road, they do so with the knowledge that there are some drivers who don’t follow the rules of the road, but with the hope that the ones that they cross paths with will. Motorists are especially hopeful that commercial truck drivers will follow the rules and regulations that are placed upon them by the State of Florida as well as the United Stated Department of Transportation. The trucks that commercial drivers are in control of are extremely heavy and as too many Florida motorists know, a mixture of these big rigs and a passenger vehicle can be catastrophic.

An important fact to understand about truck drivers driving on the roads of Florida is that drivers who are hauling loads from state to state are subject to rules and regulations that are promulgated by the Department of Transportation, a national entity that creates rules to ensure the safety of truck drivers an the motorists that they share the roads with. Even though there are thousands of accidents around the country that involve commercial trucks causing severe accidents each year, when the truck driver is at fault, it is likely that he or she was in violation of only a handful of road rules that apply to big rig drivers.

Hours on the Road

One of the most common rules that is disregarded by truck drivers is the limitation that is placed upon them with regard to how many hours per day and per week that they are allowed to spend behind the wheel. According to Department of Transportation regulations, truck drivers are allowed to drive no more than 14 hours per day, and of those 14 hours, only 11 of them can be driven without a break. In addition to the amount of hours per day that can be driven, a truck driver cannot spend more than 77 hours driving in any seven-day period. These regulations ensure that truck drivers have received the adequate rest that they need to operate their rigs without causing undue risk to themselves or other motorists.

Trucks That Are Too Heavy or Too Long

Federal law also places limits on how long a big rig’s trailers can extend past the cab of the truck. Federal law does not prohibit the use of double trailers being pulled by a single cab, but does require that the load being pulled not exceed 53 feet in length. Furthermore, the load that is being pulled must not exceed 80,000 pounds. Lastly, in an effort to ensure stability of the rig and the safety of the motorists on the road, a commercial vehicle must have an axle per 20,000 pounds of load.

Other Common Violations of Trucking Laws

There are several factors that go into a big rig crash that causes death or serious injury. Many times, truck drivers were simply going too fast or violating other laws that aren’t specific to truck drivers. Further, some truck drivers deviate from the required routing that Florida authorities place upon them. Many drivers are concerned about reaching their destination as quickly as possible and laws meant to ensure safety are sometimes viewed as an impediment to that goal.

Because accidents involving large trucks generally require a large amount of investigation, if you or someone that you love was injured in an accident involving a commercial vehicle, it is in your best interest to contact an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer at the Pendas Law Firm as soon as possible. Contact us online for a confidential consultation on your case.