Articles Posted in Trucking Rules

In my trucking litigation law practice based in Atlanta, I see plenty of instances where drug use — including prescription medications — appears to be a contributing factor in trucking accidents. Now the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a report on truckers’ drug tests that helps explain how and why. Oregon Congressman Peter DeFazio…

As a trial lawyer representing injury victims in trucking accident cases in Georgia, I’m always on the lookout for medications affecting driver alertness.  Another suspect medication has been added to the list. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a warning Thursday on the anti-smoking drug Chantix, advising medical examiners “to not qualify anyone currently…

As a Georgia lawyer handling trucking accident cases, I continually encounter the correlation between mass, speed and stopping distances. Heavier trucks require more stopping distance.  Therefore, I am concerned about a proposal to permit larger trucks on the highways in several states, including Georgia.  Understandably, the proposal, is stirring controversy about safety, environmental and infrastructure…

As a Georgia attorney focused on representing folks hurt in trucking accidents, I hear a lot of stories about driver fatigue issues, and how the practices of dispatchers and shippers affect fatigue, from truckers from across the U.S. and Canada. That’s why I try to keep up with trucking industry news from all over North…

As an attorney handling trucking accident cases in Georgia, I’ve seen a wide variety of violations of trucking safety rules. It’s a nationwide problem.  In 60,000 random inspections of tractor trailers in Arizona, 31% yielded safety violations serious enough to take the truck out of service. Fully 86% turned up at least one safety violation.…

As a Georgia lawyer representing people who are hurt in trucking accidents – and the families of those who are killed – I see too many cases where it appeared that a truck driver was deeply fatigued, was over the legal hours of service, and had a paper log that was not accurate. A study…

As an Atlanta lawyer handling trucking accident cases, I have seen many illustrations of why truck driver logs on paper are often referred to as “comic books.”  That’s why I was encouraged to see that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration  may expand its proposed requirement for electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs) to include all carriers. The…

A three day joint operation by police officers, motor carrier inspectors and drug recognition evaluators  targeting impaired semi drivers and unsafe commercial vehicles placed 99 vehicles (19 percent), out of service for assorted safety violations including excessive hours, log book deficiencies and driver qualification issues. As an Atlanta attorney handling tractor trailer wreck cases statewide in Georgia, that…

The Medical Review Board of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has recommended that CDL holders with a body mass index of 30 or higher be referred for sleep apnea testing. There is no timetable for action on this recommendation. Sleep apnea is a serious disorder that interrupts a person’s breathing during sleep.  It can…

Part of my routine includes going to truck stops to meet with interstate truck drivers. Some are witnesses in cases, and some are clients injured when another truck hits their truck.  It often occurs to me that truck drivers and trial lawyers have a lot in common. About 95% are pretty good folks who work…