Big Rig Roadside Inspections Fail to Enforce Rules

In Texas and across the country, truck inspection stations stop just a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of trucks that pass through. Inspectors look at how the loads are secured, brakes, lights, driver documentation, tires, and much more. Of the trucks that are stopped, about 21% violate safety rules enough that they are temporarily placed out of service. 1 of every 5 trucks stopped is deemed unsafe and prevented from traveling further. If that isn’t scary enough, many truck drivers know how to get around the inspection stations, often by taking back roads. It’s safe to say that the truckers who are deliberately avoiding inspections probably have a reason for doing so, and may be driving some of the most unsafe trucks on the roads.

Inspections do take time, and they do cut into driver productivity. But with truck traffic increasing rapidly in our country, the number of accidents involving semi-trucks has increased too. Part of the problem is that truckers are under an enormous amount of pressure to meet time deadlines and to “get the job done.” While a trucking company won’t explicitly tell a driver to disregard federal rules, the driver is the one who is in trouble if a load is late. This leads to many truckers cutting corners when it comes to safety, which can lead to tragedy.

If you or someone you know has been affected by an accident involving an 18-wheeler, contact a personal injury attorney with extensive experience fighting trucking accident cases today.

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