Federal Commerical Truck Driving Regulations

Pritzker Olsen lawyers have recovered millions for people injured in semitrailer accidents. Read about a recent semi truck crash settlement.

If you or a family member suffered injuries in a commercial truck accident, you may have a claim against the truck driver, the trucking company and others. We recently recovered over $2 million dollars for a family in a case involving a garbage truck wheel that separated from the truck, crashed through a car windshield and killed the driver of the car. Contact our law firm about our experience and our ability to financially handle your case.

Driving Regulations, 49 CFR 392

Federal regulations governing driving rules for commercial truck drivers, found at 49 CFR Part 392, are promulgated and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation. Some of the restrictions on drivers and trucking companies include the following:

No driver shall operate a commercial truck while the driver’s ability or alertness is impaired or likely to become impaired through fatigue, illness or any other cause to a degree that would make it unsafe for him or her to drive; no motor carrier (trucking company, etc.) shall re (§ 392.3).
No driver shall be on duty and possess, be under the influence of, or use, illegal drugs or other substances (§ 392.4).
No driver shall use alcohol, be under the influence of alcohol within 4 hours before going on duty or operating a commercial truck or while on duty, operating or having physical control of a commercial truck (§392.5(a)).
No motor carrier shall require or permit a driver to violate §392.5(a) (above) or be on duty or operate a commercial motor vehicle if, by the driver’s general appearance or conduct or by other substantiating evidence, the driver appears to have used alcohol within the preceding four hours (§392.5(b)).
No motor carrier shall schedule a run nor permit nor require the operation of any commercial motor vehicle between points in such period of time as would necessitate the commercial motor vehicle being operated at speeds greater than those prescribed by the jurisdictions in or through which the commercial motor vehicle is being operated (§392.6).
No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver is satisfied that critical parts and accessories are in good working order (§392.7).
No commercial motor vehicle shall be driven unless the driver thereof is satisfied that required emergency equipment is in place and ready for use; nor shall any driver fail to use or make use of such equipment when and as needed (§392.8).
A hauler of freight shall not drive the tractor-trailer unless the cargo is secure and the devices for securing the cargo are in good working order (§392.9).
Extreme caution in the operation of a commercial motor vehicle shall be exercised when hazardous conditions, such as those caused by snow, ice, sleet, fog, mist, rain, dust, or smoke, adversely affect visibility or traction. Speed shall be reduced when such conditions exist. If conditions become sufficiently dangerous, the operation of the commercial motor vehicle shall be discontinued and shall not be resumed until the commercial motor vehicle can be safely operated (§392.14).
Whenever a commercial motor vehicle is stopped upon the traveled portion of a highway or the shoulder of a highway for any cause other than necessary traffic stops, the driver of the stopped commercial motor vehicle shall immediately activate the vehicular hazard warning signal flashers and continue the flashing until the driver places warning devices (§392.22).

For purposes of your truck accident lawsuit, these and other commercial trucking regulations can be instrumental in proving the negligence of a commercial truck driver, trucking company and/or other party.Violation of any relevant regulation or statute is evidence of driver and/or trucking company negligence in a lawsuit seeking accident victim compensation.

Keywords: semi truck accident, tractor-trailer accident, lawyer, crash, collision, wrongful death, fatality, Alabama AL, Arkansas AK, California CA, Colorado CO, Connecticut CT, Delaware DE, District of Columbia DC, Florida FL, Georgia GA, Idaho ID, Illinois IL, Indiana IN, Iowa, Kansas KS, Kentucky KY, Louisiana LA, Maine ME, Maryland MD, Massachusetts MA, Michigan MI, fatal accident, attorney, Minnesota MN, Mississippi MS, Missouri MO, Montana MT, Nebraska NE, New Hampshire NH, New Jersey NJ, New York NY, North Carolina NC, North Dakota ND, Ohio OH, Oklahoma OK, Pennsylvania PA, settlement, Rhode Island RI, South Carolina SC, truck accident lawsuit, South Dakota SD, Tennessee TN, Texas TX, Vermont VT, Virginia VA, West Virginia WV, Wisconsin WI and Wyoming WY.

Free Case Consultation

Free Information

Top Settlements and Verdicts

Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Wins Millions for Client

Attorney Fred Pritzker won $6,000,000 for a client whose right leg was amputated when the motorcycle on which she was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver. If you have been in an accident with a DUI driver, you may have a cliam against a bar or other place that sells alcohol.

Truck Wheel Accident Death

Our law firm recently won $2,850,000 for a family whose loved one was killed by a truck wheel that crashed through a car windshield. Read about a truck wheel off accident.

Tow Truck Accident

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Elliot Olsen obtained a $2,750,000 recovery for a 59 year-old truck driver who suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the loss of his left eye and significant disfigurement when the tow chain being used to pull the man’s semi tractor-trailer out of a ditch broke loose from a front-end loader to which it was attached.

Semi-Truck Crash Settlement

Pritzker Olsen attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman recently obtained a hard-fought $2,560,000 recovery for a couple who were seriously injured in a semi-truck crash. The husband suffered serious head injury (TBI). Read about the semi truck crash settlement.

Our lawyers have recovered millions more for our clients. Contact us for a free consultation about your accident.

This is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. The result of each case is determined by the specific facts and the applicable law.

Practice Areas

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death