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Trucking Accidents Caused by Unrealistic Schedules
Serving all of Pennsylvania
Truck drivers are highly trained and experienced drivers who make a living by safely delivering cargo. Drivers never want to risk a tractor trailer accident, because their living depends on being able to make another delivery tomorrow or next week or the month after, and an accident or traffic violation can lead to a suspended license, which means the end of work forever.
Trucking and shipping companies factor truck accidents and rule violations into their accounting practices and are prepared to take a certain amount of loss when setting up their schedules. Since their math runs into the billions of dollars, they can easily write off any particular driver with a nimble flick of an eraser, leaving the damage caused to your life collateral damage.
Unrealistic schedules cause accidents by:
- Keeping fatigued drivers on the road
- Forcing drivers to drive at unsafe speeds
- Overloading trucks to get more cargo to the destination faster
- Encouraging mechanics to perform only cursory maintenance
- Rewarding companies that forge records to conceal practices
There are billions of dollars at stake in the balance between what trucking companies pay to keep their trucks on the road and how quickly they can get cargo delivered.
Trucking companies have a lot of money riding on the two major shipping routes that cross in Pennsylvania: I-80 and I-81. I-80 carries freight east-west across the continent, passing by State College, Lock Haven, Williamsport, Bloomsburg, and Stroudsburg.
I-81 connects the major commercial border crossings in New York, increasingly busy since the inception of NAFTA, to markets all down the East Coast. I-81 passes nearby Frackville, Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton. Over 4/5 of all freight in Pennsylvania ships by truck, and Pennsylvania is one of the top states of origin for freight in the United States. Over 247 million tons of freight, valued at just under $150 billion, ships on Pennsylvania highways every year.
Drivers Forced to Accept Unrealistic Schedules
The trucking industry is highly competitive. Companies insist on unrealistic delivery schedules because they know drivers need work. Even if one driver refuses, they know someone else will take the load.
Some drivers are fortunate and are able to turn down a delivery with an unrealistic schedule, while other drivers who work for a large company, know they have to take the work to keep their job.
Trucking companies make the rules of the road and drivers must comply. While government entities such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the US Department of Transportation (DOT), seek to regulate the industry, industry lobbyists have power to shape the government's guidelines, including limitations on how long drivers can be on the road, called Hours of Service (HOS) rules.
Driver Fatigue
Unrealistic schedules force drivers to be on the road longer than they safely should. This is not a safe practice for you or them. According to new HOS rules, they can legally be on the road 77 hours a week, not to mention whatever they may drive above and beyond that by forging their log books.
Driver fatigue is a factor in at least 40% of tractor trailer accidents. Read more on our Driver Fatigue Accidents page.
Driving at Unsafe Speeds
Driving the speed limit on the highway means you will be passed by every single truck on the road. Many drivers try to meet unrealistic deadlines while complying with HOS rules, by speeding. This makes tractor-trailer trucks even more dangerous. A truck driving at 70 mph has twice the destructive power of a truck driving at 50 mph. This changes even a minor accident into a deadly, destructive tragedy.
Improperly Loaded Cargo
Although drivers are supposed to check their cargo before heading out, under the pressure of unrealistic schedules, many drivers perform only a cursory check or no check at all. Cargo that is improperly loaded can come loose on the highway, hitting other vehicles or leading to scores of accidents as drivers swerve to avoid hitting logs or crates. Improperly loaded trucks are also unpredictable during braking or steering, leading to overturn or jackknife accidents.
Overloaded trucks degrade the roadbed, bridges, and are highly deadly vehicles on the road.
Poor Maintenance
When time is tight, mechanics are forced to make maintenance compromises. Because a truck can still roll despite them, worn brakes and tires are commonly overlooked. Low-tread tires are allowed to go one more trip, and brake pads are left even though they should properly be replaced.
Forged Documents
Court documents show time and again that trucking companies are not above fudging their figures to seem in compliance with all rules and regulations, but they rarely cover all their tracks. A subpoena of their documents may be necessary to find the subtle ways they hide their cost-cutting measures.
In order to find the shortcuts taken by trucking companies, you need an experienced truck accident attorney, one who knows how to expose their dangerous practices. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed as a result of the unrealistic schedules set by trucking companies, the team at Michael J. O'Connor & Associates is prepared to help you. Call our toll free number at 1.800.518.4LAW or Email us today for a free initial consultation.
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