The following are some of the most frequent offenses for which truck drivers can be cited. Truckers must ensure that they are constantly in compliance with every one of the state and federal statutes governing interstate transportation, from moving offenses such as reckless driving and incorrect lane modifications to DUIs and falsifying log books.
What should a truck driver avoid at all costs?
Service Times
In the trucking sector, hours of service infractions are among the most prevalent. Every truck driver is aware that there are laws governing how many hours a truck driver may travel in a day. These guidelines were developed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Agency (FMCSA) to keep truck drivers and other motorists safe on the road. It is vital that you do not exceed your driving time.
Read More; Guidelines for Keeping Safe on the Loading Dock
Keeping Records
It is also critical that you keep track of all of your hours. Electronic logging devices (ELDs) allow you to quickly and easily record your status and ensure that you stay within your time limitations. Each 24-hour period, a driver must register their duty status. If you have any gaps in your duty records, you will be in violation of the FMCSA’s record keeping regulations. This is a major offense that can result in fines of more than $1,000 per day. If you are driving dangerous products, the fines and penalties might be significantly greater.
Falsifying logs is a record keeping infraction that is much more serious than failing to report your duty status. If you fabricate your records, like the 14% of drivers who were suspended during the 2021 CVSA Road Check, you might face fines of more than $13,000.
Overloading
Being overloaded or incorrectly loaded is one of the most serious offenses that truckers face. Improperly loaded tractor trailers represent a severe safety danger to drivers and other vehicles. Overweight vehicles take longer to stop, are more prone to become unstable, and can result in jackknife, rollover, and other major incidents. There are federal and state restrictions governing maximum load weight, so be sure your load is secure. It will save you money in fines while also making the roadways safer.
Traffic Infractions
CDL holders are prone to speeding, tailgating, failing to signal turns or changing lanes, reckless driving, running a red light, and various other traffic offences. The penalties for these offenses vary according to the severity of the offense. However, many violations might result in the loss of a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
What are the most prevalent trucking violations?
If you work as a company truck driver, your trucking firm may publish a copy of the most recent FMCSA regulations in your home base office. They will also most likely put new drivers through a program of instruction to guarantee that you are driving safely and adhering to their best practices.
As a driver, you may prevent the most frequent infractions by operating safely, following all applicable rules and regulations, maintaining proper duty records, and examining your rig on a regular basis for any potential maintenance concerns.
What are the ramifications of breaking the Hours of Service Rules?
In addition to fines, if you breach any of the FMCSA’s Hours of Service restrictions, your truck will be placed off of service until you earn enough off-duty hours to be back in compliance. This might be up to 34 hours depending on which HOS regulation you broke. Serious infractions and recurrent crimes may result in the suspension of your CDL.