Road accidents are increasing continuously which is a matter of concern. Most of the incidents are caused by semi vehicles like trucks. Every year many people lose their lives in road accidents. Therefore, every country has made some rules for vehicles, which are very important to follow. If you are a semi-truck driver and live in Texas, then you must have accurate information about the Texas truck driving law.
Being a truck driver requires you to follow a complex set of state and federal rules and regulations that govern all aspects of your operation. The main goal of the laws is to ensure the safe operation of trucks to prevent catastrophic injuries. If you violate the laws, you may be fined or ordered to remove the truck or truck drivers from the road for repeated violations. If someone gets injured due to your negligence, you may have to pay compensation for that. Sometimes it takes many years to prove oneself innocent. Therefore it is very important to have correct information about semi-truck laws.
Semi-Truck Law
To ensure public safety and to protect other people on the road from accidents, the government has made various rules. Some of the most important rules for truck drivers include:
Testing for drugs and alcohol
No driver may operate a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Under the Omnibus Transportation Employee Testing Act of 1991, all transportation workers must submit to drug and alcohol testing in an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related truck accidents. If the driver refuses the test, he or she will face immediate removal from any transportation-related activities required by federal law.
Restrictions regarding hours of service
One of the major causes of truck accidents is fatigue. Therefore, to deal with accidents, the driver should take regular breaks and allow a fixed time between shifts. Commercial motor vehicle operators must comply with the duty hours or hours of service as per regulations.
A commercial truck driver carrying any property may drive only 11 hours each day, after a minimum of 10 hours of duty. If a truck carries passengers, the driver may drive only for 10-hour shifts after at least 8 hours of duty. Finally, drivers are only allowed to log 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days. All truck drivers must have 7 to 8 days off and at least 34 hours off before commencing the stretch.
Commercial truck maintenance
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recognizes that a lack of proper maintenance can lead to dangerous truck accidents. As a result, all commercial vehicles operating on public roads must follow a regular maintenance schedule. All trucks and their components shall at all times be in good operating condition in accordance with federal law. Truck owners and operators must complete certain system checks at least once every 90 days, and motor carriers must record all maintenance activities on the books, which they must submit upon request to a law enforcement officer.
Using a mobile device
Using a phone while driving can be dangerous for you and your passengers. Therefore, it has been banned in Texas. In September of 2017, Texas became one of the last states in the country to pass a statewide texting ban. Any person can text, email, use the navigation system for any purpose, or use any form of texting while driving.
The laws and regulations for commercial drivers and especially semi-truck drivers are very complex. It is important to be aware of the laws set by each state because semi-truck drivers often cross state borders. If you live in Texas then you should have complete knowledge about passenger laws for semi-trucks, semi-truck length laws, etc. If you or your loved one is involved in a semi-truck accident and you want proper assistance then contact us for a free consultation.
