Like most Americans, you may feel concerned that truckers work long hours, driving large vehicles on some of America’s most dangerous roads. All of these factors create a dangerous cocktail that puts you and other road users at risk. Are truck drivers to blame for these long hours and grueling work conditions or should road users hold employers accountable?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average trucker puts in 60 hours of work each week and hauls for more than 100,000 miles in a year. These numbers are high considering the great responsibility that comes with commercial hauling. However, pointing the finger may prove more confusing than it at first appears.
Employers and contracting companies have strict targets
It may seem easy to blame truckers for falling asleep at the wheel or speeding. Unfortunately, these risky behaviors that put you and your family at risk may stem from a need to meet unrealistic targets.
The CDC reports found that 73% of truckers believe the deadlines employers ask them to meet seem too tight or unrealistic. This implies that truckers would love to get off the road when tired and work fewer hours.
Truckers fight back when asked to drive less
California and the federal government made regulations meant to protect truckers. The federal laws hoped to regulate how long employers could ask truckers to drive, each day. Meanwhile, California sought to ensure truckers received regular breaks.
Some truckers welcomed these changes, but not all truckers wanted them. In fact, some truckers lobbied the governments to roll back the Obama-era regulations on driving hours. They felt government officials should not get to determine how many hours they could drive.
Why trucking accidents occur and who should take the blame remains a multi-faceted issue. Still, should you or your loved ones become injured in an accident involving a commercial trucker, it is worth noting the possibility of holding more parties than just the trucker liable.
