The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced several changes to the trucking hours of service rules, which govern how long truck drivers can be on the road and when they must rest to avoid fatigue. Most of the changes don’t go into effect until 2013, but many trucking companies are already complaining that the changes will negatively affect their businesses and may even force them to hire more drivers.
The rule leaves the 11-hour workday intact, which many trucking companies insisted on. However, it reduces the total number of hours a driver may work in seven days from 80 hours to 72 hours. It also requires drivers to take a thirty-minute break within the first eight hours on the road, and it requires drivers who have met their 72-hour weekly limit to sleep between midnight and 5 a.m. during their 34-hour off-duty “restart” period.
Some trucking companies estimate that the reduced number of total work hours drivers can put in each week will cost millions in lost miles that would otherwise have been covered. Many are making plans to hire additional drivers to make up for the lost workload, but many are also predicting that the costs of adding drivers will result in increased costs for shipping – costs that will likely be passed to consumers.
Professional commercial drivers need to make a living, but they also need enough time for sleep, rest, and self-care to allow them to drive safely. At Page Law, our experienced truck accident lawyers in St. Louis are dedicated to fighting on behalf of those injured by a truck driver’s or company’s negligence. For more information on how we can help after a crash, call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515.
Sleep apnea is a condition that can cause lack of restful sleep, making truck drivers who have it more likely to fall asleep at the wheel. Truck driver fatigue in Missouri and throughout the nation is a major problem with regard to sleep apnea as one cause in some instances. Yet despite increased research on sleep apnea and the dangers of driving without proper sleep, many businesses in the trucking industry have yet to implement ways to protect drivers and other motorists from the risks of sleep apnea, according to a recent article in Fleet Owner magazine.
The risks of sleep apnea for tractor-trailer drivers were highlighted in a Texas case in which a trucking company settled with a family after one of its drivers, who had been diagnosed with sleep apnea, fell asleep at the wheel, causing an accident that took the life of a Texas man. It is believed that the trucker had refused to treat his sleep apnea, and that his employer had not followed up with him regarding his care.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that up to one-third of commercial truck and bus drivers suffer from sleep apnea, a relatively common condition. While not all people who have sleep apnea are unable to drive safely, the risks of unsafe driving are increased when one is behind the wheel of a large vehicle, like a fully-loaded semi truck.
Driver fatigue causes several truck accidents each year, often with devastating results. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash, the experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free case evaluation.
Seat belts can help save lives in an accident, whether you’re in a passenger vehicle or a large commercial vehicle like a tractor-trailer. A recent study by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that truck drivers are buckling up more than ever before. The FMCSA still encourages passenger vehicle drivers to buckle up as well, since this simple tool can prevent death or serious injuries in a truck accident.
According to the FMCSA, seat belt use among truck drivers was up to 78 percent in 2010, from 74 percent in 2009. Truck drivers were more likely to buckle up in states that had primary seat belt laws than they were in states with secondary laws. A primary seat belt law allows law enforcement to stop a vehicle if the driver is not wearing a seat belt, even if he or she has done nothing else to warrant a stop. A secondary law, on the other hand, can only be enforced if the vehicle has already been stopped for some other reason.
In addition, drivers that worked for trucking companies that operated a fleet of trucks averaged an 80 percent rate of buckling up, while independent owner-operators averaged only 71 percent. The FMCSA hypothesizes that greater safety awareness by trucking companies may have more to do with the increase in their drivers wearing seat belts. Fleet drivers and owner-operators tend to cause roughly the same number of accidents each year, however, indicating that more focus on drivers protecting others on the road is also needed.
A seat belt can protect anyone wearing it in a crash, but it can’t prevent a negligent driver from causing an accident. At Page Law, our experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers are dedicated to representing those who have been injured in accidents with trucks and other large vehicles. To learn more about how we can help you, call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.
Truck accidents can have horrifying consequences, especially when a large, fully-loaded tractor trailer collides with a small passenger vehicle. In 2010, however, most truck accidents left no one injured and caused only property damage, according to a recent report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Accidents involving single- or multi-unit tractor-trailers caused property damage in 7,898 separate situations in 2010, according to the state highway patrol’s report. Meanwhile, 1,173 people were injured in tractor-trailer accidents and 83 lost their lives. While these numbers are still unacceptably high – especially for those who were injured or lost a loved one in one of these accidents – they are significantly better than the rates for death and injury in Missouri passenger vehicle accidents in 2010.
Another category in which deaths were rare but property damage common was among commercial buses (not school buses). Only three people lost their lives in commercial bus accidents in Missouri in 2010, but property damage occurred in 956 accidents. 250 people were injured in Missouri commercial bus accidents in 2010.
Often, property damage without injury to any people involved is preferable to the alternative, especially if the accident involves a tractor-trailer or other large vehicle. While vehicles, buildings, road barriers, and other items can be expensive to replace, their cost does not come close to the value of a human being’s life or health.
When property damage or injury occurs, you have certain legal rights in Missouri. At Page Law, our experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys are dedicated to helping those who suffered injury or property damage in a crash hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. To learn more about your options after a truck crash, call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.
A passenger in a pickup truck lost her life recently when the vehicle she was riding in was hit by a semi truck at a Queen City intersection, according to a recent news report from KTVO.
The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 63 and Highway W. The driver of the pickup truck, a 38-year-old man from Greentop, Missouri, had stopped at the intersection. As he pulled into the intersection, his pickup was struck by a tractor-trailer driving through the intersection. According to preliminary police reports, the driver said that although he had looked both ways, he did not see the semi coming until it was too late.
His passenger, a 37-year-old woman who is also a Greentop resident, suffered serious injuries in the crash. Rescue workers transported her to a local hospital, but her injuries proved too extensive for medical personnel to treat. She passed away at the hospital several hours after the crash. The driver of the pickup truck suffered moderate injuries and was also taken to the hospital. The semi’s driver was not injured.
Semi accidents are less common than passenger vehicle accidents, but when a large semi collides with an ordinary passenger vehicle, tragic losses can result. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, the experienced St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Page Law are here to help. For more information, call us today at (314) 322-8515. The initial consultation is free, and your information is always kept confidential.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s Hours of Service rules have long set limits on how long truck drivers may drive without a rest and how long they must spend resting when they stop. After reviewing new research on truck driver fatigue and human sleep patterns, the administration has revised the Hours of Service rules to require more rest, according to a FMCSA press release.
The new rules limit drivers to a total of 70 hours of driving in any seven-day period, down from 82 hours previously. They also keep the current limit of 11 hours per day behind the wheel. Drivers may not drive more than 11 hours in any 24-hour period; while they are not required to sleep in the remaining 13 hours of the day, they are not allowed to drive their trucks during this time. Most drivers take the opportunity to sleep and eat during their “down time,” however.
In addition, the new rules require drivers to take a thirty-minute break for each eight hours of driving. This break should be taken when the driver feels tired, and it can be taken any time within the eight-hour period. Drivers are also required to take at least 24 hours off every seven days, and are expected to sleep between 10:00 pm and 5:00 am during this time, which is the time of day when the human sleep cycle makes people sleepiest and least able to focus on a task like driving, according to new research.
Once a driver has been off for 34 consecutive hours, the weekly “clock” resets, and the driver can start adding hours toward the next 70-hours-in-7-days limit.
Driver fatigue is a major factor in many serious accidents, and truck drivers are not exempt from fatigue’s risks. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, please don’t hesitate to call the experienced Missouri truck accident attorneys at Page Law. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.
For more information on the dangers of truck accidents, watch this video:
Driving safely on Missouri’s roads and freeways means knowing how to share the road with semi trucks and other large vehicles to reduce the risks of an accident. When the weather turns snowy and icy, however, the risk factors change. Keep these MO winter driving tips in mind to reduce the chance that a crash will ruin your holiday commutes.
Leave extra space. Leave space between you and the semi truck in front of you, so that you have adequate space to stop even if the road is slippery. Likewise, if you merge in front of a truck, make sure you leave several car lengths between you and the front of the truck. In winter weather conditions, a semi truck may need the length of a football field to stop completely so plan accordingly.
Drive more slowly, especially if passing a truck that is pulling over or has stopped on the side of the roadway. Do not use cruise control on wet, snowy, or icy roads.
Clean off your car thoroughly to prevent snow or ice from obscuring your headlights or flying off your car and distracting or obscuring other drivers’ vision – including truck drivers – from the road ahead.
Pack extra blankets and a heat source, such as a candle in a tin can, in case your vehicle is disabled in an accident and you must wait for help to arrive. Extra blankets and clothes can help keep you warm if your heater won’t run after a crash.
If you or someone you love was involved in a truck accident, the dedicated and experienced St. Louis truck accident attorneys at Page Law can help. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a consultation. The call is free, and your information is kept confidential.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is creating tougher procedures for preventing violators from “reincarnating” to erase their history of not complying with FMCSA safety regulations for commercial trucks and buses.
According to the FMCSA, “reincarnation” is a common practice among small trucking companies. The cycle begins when a company receives one or more citations from FMCSA for failing to follow safety rules. The citation may be for a defective or poorly-maintained truck, for violating the Hours of Service (HOS) rules, or for another reason. Rather than fixing the problem, the company goes out of business – at least, on paper.
The trucks and assets of the first business are transferred to a new company name, and the company starts over with no “official” violations on its record and no responsibility for fixing the old violations – even if they still endanger drivers or other motorists. Some companies “reincarnate” several times to avoid dealing with ongoing violations. This form of truck employer negligence is very dangerous.
FMCSA has already begun doing more background research into owner-operators and trucking companies, looking for signs that the company is a reincarnation. Now, the agency is developing uniform rules for weeding out reincarnations and holding trucking companies responsible.
Truck accidents can cause serious injuries and even death. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck crash, the dedicated tractor-trailer accident attorneys in Missouri at Page Law have the courtroom experience and legal resources to help you hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. For a free and confidential consultation, call Page Law today at (314) 322-8515.
The U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for enforcing the trucking laws and regulations that govern safety among the U.S.’s commercial truck drivers and bus drivers. In order to keep track of safety information, the FMCSA uses a Safety Measurement System (SMS). The SMS tracks several safety-related variables to ensure that drivers and trucking companies are addressing safety issues when they appear.
The SMS measures safety in several different categories, known as Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICs). Data on each trucking company’s or owner-operator’s BASICs is fed into the FMCSA’s computer database, which ranks drivers and companies based on how well they’re performing when it comes to safety. Truckers who are involved in a high number of safety violations or accidents are flagged by the system, and the FMCSA focuses on improving safety with these drivers and companies by enforcing safety rules – including taking the trucks or drivers off the road, if needed – and ensuring that the companies follow up on fixing safety problems.
The BASIC categories cover safety issues like: driver fitness, fatigue, and education; vehicle and cargo maintenance; crash history; and alcohol and drug use among drivers. If an owner-operator or trucking company performs too low in any one category, the FMCSA provides warnings and resources for the company to improve. If the company performs too low in multiple categories, it may be given an “unsatisfactory” ranking by the FMCSA. “Unsatisfactory” truckers may be prevented from driving until they fix the safety issues.
Truck accidents are uncommon, but when they do occur, serious injuries and even deaths can result. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, the experienced truck accident attorneys in Missouri at Page Law are ready to help. For more information and a free telephone consultation, call us today at (314) 322-8515.
A slippery stretch of Interstate 70 near St. Louis has been improved after several truck drivers contacted the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) about the near-accidents they had on that curve.
The area, which was recently re-paved, includes the stretch near mile marker 180 just outside St. Louis. While it was no problem for truckers to navigate during dry weather, when it rained, the stretch of I-70 became dangerously slippery. At least one truck nearly jackknifed going around the curve, and others reported hydroplaning and similar risks when they passed through the area in the rain, especially if they were using cruise control at the time.
After a couple slippery close calls, one truck driver called MODOT’s emergency cell phone number, *55, to report the hazardous roadway. Not long after, crews were dispatched to improve the road surface so that trucks would not jackknife or slide in rainy or snowy weather. Truckers say the changes have made a difference in safety on the curve. MODOT also sent out workers to address another slick spot approximately four miles away, also on I-70. Both patches were ground down to add traction, so that vehicle tires can grab the pavement instead of sliding across it.
When truck accidents happen, the resulting damage can be devastating. If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident, an experienced St. Louis truck accident attorney at Page Law is ready to help. For a free and confidential consultation, call us at (314) 322-8515 today.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced several changes to the trucking hours of service rules, which govern how long truck drivers can be on the road and when they must rest to avoid fatigue. Most of the changes don’t go into effect until 2013, but many trucking companies are already complaining that the changes will negatively affect their businesses and may even force them to hire more drivers.
Seat belts can help save lives in an accident, whether you’re in a passenger vehicle or a large commercial vehicle like a tractor-trailer. A recent study by the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shows that truck drivers are buckling up more than ever before. The FMCSA still encourages passenger vehicle drivers to buckle up as well, since this simple tool can prevent death or serious injuries in a truck accident.
Driving safely on Missouri’s roads and freeways means knowing how to share the road with semi trucks and other large vehicles to reduce the risks of an accident. When the weather turns snowy and icy, however, the risk factors change. Keep these 
According to the FMCSA, “reincarnation” is a common practice among small trucking companies. The cycle begins when a company receives one or more citations from FMCSA for failing to follow safety rules. The citation may be for a defective or poorly-maintained truck, for violating the Hours of Service (HOS) rules, or for another reason. Rather than fixing the problem, the company goes out of business – at least, on paper.