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Federal Requirements for Truck Drivers (Part B)

Truck Driver Regulations: Hours of Service

Regulations exist for hours of service for truck drivers:

Maximum driving time;
Driver's record of duty status/declared out of service; and
Automatic on-board recording devices.

If a driver were to violate these federal trucking regulations-for instance by exceeding the maximum driving time-your Chicago truck accident lawyer may be able to use evidence of this negligence while building your truck accident claim.

Truck Driver Regulations: Hours of Service (HOS)

There are regulations that limit when and how long the driver of a commercial motor vehicle may drive. These regulations are in place to ensure that drivers are able to safely operate their vehicles.

Final Rule on Hours of Service (HOS)

The final rule on hours of service, which became effective January 19, 2009, are that a driver can drive a commercial vehicle-such as a semi truck-up to 11 hours within a 14 hour, non-extendable window from the start of the driver's workday. This must come after spending at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.

Drivers can restart calculations of the weekly on-duty limits after having at least 34 consecutive hours of being off duty. This is known as the 34-hour restart.

Truck Driver Regulations: Common Questions

Do HOS regulations apply to intrastate commerce? No, intrastate commercial vehicle regulations fall under the jurisdiction of each state.
What are some of the penalties for violating HOS? Penalties can include a driver being shut down roadside, all the way to being fined.
Can a driver be called after 8 hours of being off-duty to report to work 2 hours later? Yes, since the regulations don't control communications between drivers and motor carriers, however, a driver is not required to drive during the 10 hours of being off-duty.

When truck driver requirements are followed the roads become safer. Unfortunately, not all truck drivers or trucking companies adhere to federal trucking regulations and truck driver negligence can lead to a serious accident. If you have been involved in a Chicago truck crash contact a Chicago truck accident lawyer.

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 may 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

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.