DOT Revision of Trucking Rules Could Affect Motorists' Safety

President Obama issued an executive order in January 2011 calling for a government-wide review of regulations in an effort to eliminate those rules that are overly burdensome and stifle job creation and economic growth. In response, the Department of Transportation (DOT) released its final plan in August 2011 identifying DOT regulations that officials believed to be outdated. Many of the rules affect the commercial trucking industry and revisions to them could affect the safety of those who travel in states with a great deal of 18 wheeler traffic.

The DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the federal agency charged with the mission of preventing commercial vehicle accidents, fatalities and injuries. One of the ways the FMCSA does this is through rules it issues regulating the trucking industry, such as Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for those driving commercial vehicles, vehicle regulations and hazmat regulations. These rules ensure that drivers and trucking companies are using the safest procedures possible when operating. The FMSCA uses the latest scientific research to draft rules to help make certain that they will be effective in helping to reduce accidents.

The FMCSA also enforces the rules and sanctions operators who violate them. Additionally, the FMCSA keeps records regarding commercial vehicle accidents and rule compliance to help analyze the effectiveness of the rules. One of the ways that the FMCSA uses the data it collects is in The Large Truck Crash Causation Study, which makes statistical analyses of crash risks.

The DOT targeted 79 of the department's rules for revision. Among some of the changes rules that the DOT will make that govern the trucking industry are:

• Removing the requirement that a CDL holder notify the license issuing state of traffic violations occurring in other states
• Modifying hazmat incident reporting procedures
• Getting rid of "redundancies" in driver vehicle inspection requirements
• Allowing electronic signatures and recordkeeping

The DOT is also examining 56 more rules to determine whether the department should modify or eliminate them.

Since the FMCSA designs the rules it issues with the intent of reducing 18 wheeler accidents and making the roads safer for all drivers, the DOT should take great care when revising them to ensure that it is not bowing to pressure from those in the trucking industry looking for looser regulations in order to be able to make a greater profit.

Accidents involving 18 wheelers and passenger vehicles are some off the most dangerous for motorists. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a large commercial vehicle, contact an experienced attorney who can help you face the trucking company and obtain compensation for your losses.