Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers

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7/14/2010
Advocate for the Injured
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Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers

Truck drivers have an obligation to follow safety measures in order to help prevent truck accidents. This is why federal requirements are in place. To learn more about truck driver requirements, visit our article library.

One of the key areas of safety regulation for truck drivers are the hours of service limits. If a truck driver is operating a commercial motor vehicle that carries property, these are the rules:

Drivers may drive 11 hours maximum after 10 consecutive hours off-duty;
Drivers cannot drive beyond the 14^th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off-duty (14 hour period is not extended by off-duty time);
Drivers may not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days (may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period only after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off-duty); and
Drivers using the sleeper berth provision have to take at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, in addition to 2 consecutive hours of being either in the sleeper berth, off-duty, or a combination of the two.

These rules are in place to ensure that drivers are alert when driving on the road. If these rules are violated, the results could be a serious truck accident.

If you or someone you love has been involved in an Illinois truck accident, contact an Chicago truck accident lawyer who will help you determine if truck driver negligence played a role in your crash.

Hiring a Chicago Truck Accident Lawyer

Even experienced, safe drivers run the risk of being involved in a serious Illinois truck accident. Beyond your initial recovery, injuries in these types of accidents are often serious and can result in permanent disability or disfigurement which can cause loss of the ability to work, years of rehabilitation, serious medical bills, and have a significant impact on your life.

A Chicago truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. has dealt with similar cases to yours and knows the best course of action for your claim. To improve your chances at a fair settlement and take the burden out of all the paperwork involved in an Illinois truck accident claim, contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080

Labels: truck accident Truck driver negligence truck driver requirements

As a service to the residents of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Illinois in general, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Illinois and can result in serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

-- single-car accidents such as SUV rollovers;
-- accidents due to hazardous road conditions; and
-- accidents caused by distracted, aggressive, and/or drunk drivers.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.