Truck drivers must follow numerous laws that don’t apply to other drivers. They are subject to a much lower threshold for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) while they operate commercial vehicles. They are subject to the federal no-texting rule that applies in every state.
They also typically need to comply with the hours of service rules. While most drivers can stay on the road as long as they deem safe and necessary, truck drivers must comply with rules that restrict the duration of shifts and the amount of drive time they clock in a seven- or eight-day period.
Even with strict drive time limits, hours of service rules do not completely eliminate fatigue.
The law can’t control daily life
In some cases, company practices may pressure drivers to stay on the road longer than they should. Even if a truck always complies with drive time restrictions, they may still become fatigued while working long shifts. Part of that risk comes from their personal obligations. They may have a commute home after dropping off their truck, as well as household responsibilities after a shift at work.
Truck drivers can have medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, which interfere with their ability to obtain adequate rest even while asleep. Additionally, driving for hours at a time can trigger fatigue, especially in repetitive highway settings.
When truck driver fatigue causes a crash, especially if hours of service violations occurred, the people affected by the wreck may have legal rights. Reviewing what led to a semi-truck collision can help injured parties evaluate insurance coverage and other options for covering their losses.