On February 27, five organizations legally challenged a federal agency’s rule regarding the number of hours truckers may drive. On August 25, 2005, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admininstration issued a rule that increased the number of hours truckers may drive in a day from 10 to 11 hours, and the number of hours over 7 days from 60 to 77 hours. The rule also fails to require electronic recorders on the trucks, which would provide more reliable data on how many hours truckers actually drive.
Each year, more than 5,000 people are killed, and more than 110,000 injured, in large truck related accidents. As a result, these organizations filed a petition with the U.S. Court of Appeals, asking the court to find that the FMCSA’s rule violates its assignment to put safety first.
Those injured in accidents involving truckers should contact a personal injury attorney immediately to discuss their options and rights.
For more information, please see: Trucker Hours-of-Service Rule Creates Hazard.
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