Learn How Trucking Companies Can Prevent Large Trucking Accidents

As per the latest data by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), there were around 4,311 trucks involved in fatal collisions in the year 2015. Deadly trucking collisions are bad for your employees, vehicle passengers, and your reputation. Driver fatigue, distracted driving, and inadequate vehicle maintenance are all causes of deadly trucking accidents. From driverless cars to motion-sensing brakes, automobile companies are continuously looking for innovative ways to make vehicles safer. Unfortunately, the same is not the case with trucking companies. In this post, our experienced Marion trucking accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Manley Traeger provide an analysis on how trucking companies can prevent deadly trucking collisions:

Causes for Trucking Accidents

Before we understand and talk about the precautionary measures to prevent accidents, let’s take a quick look at the causes of trucking accidents:

From the year 2009 to 2016, fatal trucking accidents increased every single year. Trucking collisions are common due to unfortunate working conditions of the truckers, such as:

• Long working hours
• Stringent deadlines
• Shortage of trucks
• Limited space in the tractor-trailers

How Trucking Companies Can Prevent Accidents:

Implement Adequate Training: According to the research done by FMCSA, the driver is one of the most prevalent factors in large trucking accidents. Some of the common reasons that lead to driver impairment include:

• Decision: The driver may make poor decisions such as speeding, following other vehicles too closely, and misjudging the speed of other cars.
• Failure to observe: If the driver is distracted, they may fail to find the detrimental objects on the road.
• Performance: Driver may react improperly to various situations by panicking or improperly steering the vehicle.

Thus, adequate training of drivers is essential, and it’s equally critical to hire a driver with a positive driving record.

Follow All the Safety Rules and Regulations: One of the essential recommendations is to follow all the regulations by FMCSA, including licensing and commercial registration. Additionally, trucking companies also need to adhere to the trucking size and weight regulations set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It’s important to understand that inadequate maintenance of gigantic trucks often lead to deadly accidents and injuries. For enhanced safety, electrical wiring, brakes, and other functionalities should be checked before going out on the road.

Incorporate Fleet Monitoring Systems: Most trucking companies fail to realize that the core of your company is your driver. Without an attentive and competent driver, your fleet will not operate optimally. The advanced fleet monitoring systems improve the profile of your drivers by providing details of the route taken, average speed when driving, and the way they drive. This data, in fact, helps to eliminate all the bad habits of driving.

Make Communications Safer for Trucking Drivers: It’s a well-acknowledged fact that distracted driving is one of the most common causes of fatal accidents. FMSCA restricts the use of mobile phones and texting while driving. Thus, it’s essential to create safer communications for trucking drivers and also instruct them to stop their vehicles, in case, they need to contact someone.

Revisit and Improve Safety Guidelines: Offering training once to the trucking drivers doesn’t work in the trucking industry. It’s crucial to understand that threats on the roads continuously evolve. To ensure safety and avert deadly accidents, make sure you carry out random driving evaluations, implement drug testing of drivers, and gather feedback from employees at regular intervals.

Irrespective of all the steps to enhance safety, trucking accidents can still occur. Unfortunately, multiple trucking companies are focusing on short-term profits and compromising the safety of others on the roads. If you or someone you love has been injured in a trucking accident, do not hesitate to get in touch with competent attorneys. Our trucking accident attorneys in Marion at the Manley Traeger understand how negligence of trucking companies can negatively impact the lives of other commuters on the road. We work with a core team of clerks, assistants and paralegals to ensure that you obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.

For a free evaluation of your case, call us at 334-777-6226.