Commercial Driving Standards

North Carolina and South Carolina Truck Accident Lawyer

The motor carrier industry is highly regulated to ensure safety and prevent accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes regulations that apply to employers, employees, and the commercial motor vehicles that carry certain property or passengers across state lines.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations are the minimum standards for commercial vehicles and motor carriers cannot operate trucks unless they meet these standards. If these standards are not met, then the likelihood of a truck-related accident increases substantially. Since commercial motor vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and are much bigger than passenger vehicles, accidents can have devastating results.

Lawyer Brian Steed Tatum has years of experience in helping North Carolina and South Carolina’s injured drivers and their families deal with the devastating consequences of truck collisions. His experience ensures that injured clients receive the fullest compensation allowed by law.

Commercial Driving Standards

North Carolina has a number of commercial driving standards in place to keep everyone safe on the roads. Some of these standards are as follows:

• Registration of commercial vehicles
• Regulations for carrier operations
• Driver requirements
• Requirements for traffic safety
• Allowable height, weight, and dimensions
• Regulations for hazardous materials
• Requirements for inspection and maintenance

Most truck accidents occur when safety controls and processes are not followed. Failure to properly train drivers to follow safety regulations are among the main causes of truck accidents.

All commercial vehicles must be registered, no matter if they are traveling only in North Carolina or in all states. Once these vehicles are registered, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates them. The maximum height and weight of each truck is determined by the number of axles and the distance between the steering axle and the rear axle. Going over weight limits can be unsafe and puts all drivers at risk. Commercial vehicles must also maintain insurance and the vehicle must have a motor carrier bodily injury and property damage liability certificate on file with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles.

The drivers of these motor carriers are subject to strict requirements. All drivers must have proper licenses and go through the correct training in order to operate a semi-truck. Drivers are also required to maintain time logs, ensure that annual safety inspections for each vehicle are done, and perform pre- and post-trip inspections. In addition to these regulations, drivers are held to the highest standards, and therefore all traffic violations by a truck driver must be reported to that driver’s employer. Even more regulations are in place for drivers who are hauling hazardous materials.

Consult an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer

Being involved in a truck accident can be devastating, That is why the Tatum Law Firm is committed to serving clients involved in truck accidents in North Carolina and South Carolina.

Our experienced and dedicated truck accident lawyer, Brian Steed Tatum, will carefully pursue your claim in order to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured or someone has been killed in a truck accident, please contact our office for assistance at (704) 307-4350, or online for a free case evaluation.