Trucking Company Negligence: Common Violations That Lead to Accidents

When 80,000 pounds of steel meet a passenger car, lives change forever.

Every day on Colorado’s highways, families driving to work or heading home for dinner find themselves sharing the road with massive commercial trucks.

Most truckers are professionals who take their responsibility seriously, but the companies they work for don’t always share that commitment to safety.

In my 32 years representing accident victims, I’ve witnessed a troubling pattern.

Too many trucking companies prioritize profit margins over public safety, cutting corners on training, maintenance, and regulatory compliance.

These shortcuts create preventable accidents that destroy lives.

The difference between an unavoidable tragedy and corporate negligence often comes down to understanding which safety rules were broken and why.

Hours of Service Violations Create Deadly Fatigue

Driver fatigue ranks among the leading causes of commercial truck accidents nationwide.

Federal regulations strictly limit how many hours truck drivers can operate their vehicles without mandatory rest periods.

Despite these clear rules, many trucking companies pressure drivers to exceed legal driving limits.

Current hours of service regulations require drivers to take a 10-hour break after driving 11 hours.

Drivers must also take a 30-minute break within the first 8 hours of their shift.

Companies that encourage drivers to falsify logbooks or ignore these requirements create extremely dangerous situations.

Fatigued truck drivers experience slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and may even fall asleep behind the wheel.

When a drowsy driver loses control of an 80,000-pound vehicle, the consequences are often fatal.

Inadequate Driver Screening and Training Programs

Federal law requires companies to verify driving records, conduct background checks, and ensure drivers hold valid commercial licenses before putting them behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler.

The reality is far different.

At Allen Accident Law, I’ve seen how companies put drivers through training quickly and get them earning revenue.

Some bypass background checks entirely or deliberately ignore concerning histories.

Others hire drivers with strings of traffic violations, DUI convictions, or accident records that should disqualify them immediately.

When these undertrained or unqualified drivers inevitably cause accidents, the companies that rushed them onto our roads can’t escape responsibility for their reckless hiring decisions.

Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection Failures

Federal regulations require trucking companies to maintain their vehicles in a safe operating condition.

This includes regular inspections, timely repairs, and detailed maintenance records.

Companies must also ensure drivers conduct pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections.

Despite these requirements, some companies defer maintenance to save money.

They may operate trucks with worn brakes, bald tires, or faulty lighting systems.

Others fail to address known mechanical problems until after an accident occurs.

Brake failures alone cause thousands of truck accidents each year.

When companies neglect brake maintenance or ignore warning signs, they put everyone on the road at risk.

Overloading and Improper Cargo Securement

Federal weight limits exist to prevent trucks from becoming unstable or causing excessive wear on roadways.

Companies must also properly secure cargo to prevent loads from shifting during transport.

Overloaded trucks require longer stopping distances and become difficult to control in emergency situations.

Some companies routinely exceed weight limits to transport more cargo per trip.

Others fail to properly distribute weight or secure loads according to federal standards.

When cargo shifts unexpectedly, it can cause drivers to lose control and collide with other vehicles.

Drug and Alcohol Testing Program Violations

Commercial truck drivers must undergo regular drug and alcohol testing.

Companies are required to test drivers before employment, randomly during employment, and after accidents.

These programs help identify substance abuse problems before they lead to tragic accidents.

Some companies fail to implement proper testing programs or ignore positive test results.

Others may not conduct required post-accident testing, which prevents an accurate determination of accident causes.

When companies allow drivers with substance abuse problems to continue operating, they create unreasonable dangers for everyone.

Electronic Logging Device Tampering

Modern trucks must be equipped with electronic logging devices to track driver hours accurately.

These devices prevent drivers from falsifying paper logbooks to exceed legal driving limits.

However, some companies and drivers still attempt to tamper with or disable these systems.

ELD tampering allows drivers to exceed hours of service limits without detection.

This practice directly contributes to driver fatigue and increases accident risks.

Companies that encourage or allow ELD tampering demonstrate a clear disregard for public safety.

Inadequate Supervision and Company Culture Issues

Imagine working for a company that pays you extra money to break the speed limit.

That’s the twisted reality at some trucking operations where profit drives every decision.

While responsible companies monitor their drivers and maintain cultures of safety, others actively encourage dangerous behavior through their policies and incentives.

I’ve encountered companies that offer bonuses for faster delivery times, knowing drivers will have to speed or skip required breaks to earn them.

Others turn a blind eye when drivers repeatedly violate safety rules, treating fines as simply the cost of doing business.

When companies send the message that rule-breaking is not only acceptable but profitable, tragic accidents stop being accidents. They become inevitable consequences of corporate greed.

How I Identify Trucking Company Negligence

After three decades investigating motor vehicle accidents, I’ve learned that trucking companies leave fingerprints on every violation.

My years defending insurance companies taught me something most attorneys never discover: how trucking companies really operate behind closed doors.

I know their strategies, their excuses, and most importantly, where they try to hide evidence of negligence.

Every case requires a team effort.

I work alongside accident reconstruction specialists who can read skid marks, former trucking executives who understand industry shortcuts, and regulatory experts who know every loophole companies exploit.

While other attorneys struggle with the mountain of trucking records and electronic data, I’ve spent years learning to decode these complex documents that often contain the smoking gun evidence we need.

What Your Case Is Really Worth

Most people have no idea what their trucking accident case is actually worth.

Insurance adjusters count on this ignorance, offering quick settlements that barely cover immediate medical bills while ignoring the long-term impact on your life.

As a truck accident attorney, I’ve recovered over $15 million in personal injury settlements because I understand that true compensation goes far beyond today’s hospital bills.

Your case may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and permanent disability benefits.

When trucking companies act with particularly reckless disregard for safety, punitive damages can multiply your recovery substantially.

My job is making sure you receive every dollar you deserve, compensation that actually reflects how this accident changed your world, not what some insurance company thinks is convenient to pay.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of evidence are most important in trucking negligence cases?

Key evidence includes driver logs, maintenance records, electronic data from the truck, witness statements, and accident scene photographs. Company policies, training records, and safety violation history can also be crucial to proving negligence.

Can I still recover compensation if the truck driver was following company orders?

Yes, trucking companies can be held liable for accidents caused by their drivers, even when drivers were following company instructions. In fact, if company policies encouraged unsafe practices, this can strengthen your case against the company.

How do trucking company insurance policies differ from regular auto insurance?

Commercial trucking policies typically have much higher coverage limits due to federal requirements. These policies may also have multiple layers of coverage and complex exclusions that require experienced legal representation to navigate.