Semitrucks, flatbeds, and other commercial trucks haul cargo across the country. There is no doubt that trucks are vitally important, but these massive vehicles can also be extremely dangerous. When truck cargo is not loaded correctly, it can increase the chances of a truck accident. Cargo may move around within the truck’s trailer, making it hard for the driver to control the truck. Shifting cargo can even cause the truck to tip over. Freight that is not strapped down well enough can also fall out of the truck and onto the road where it becomes a deadly hazard to other motorists.

If you or a loved one were involved in an auto accident due to improperly loaded and secured truck cargo, you may be able to take legal action against the trucking company or other at-fault party. You could be entitled to financial compensation for vehicle damage, medical expenses, lost income, and more.

Accidents Caused by Improper Loading and Securement of Truck Cargo

Inadequately secured cargo, unbalanced loads, and overloaded trucks pose such a threat that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has instituted specific cargo securement rules. Truck cargo must be secured well enough to withstand 0.8 g deceleration in the forward direction, 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction, and 0.5 g acceleration in a lateral direction. Tiedowns must be used to ensure that cargo cannot loosen or release during transit. Additionally, the weight must be distributed evenly on the truck and not surpass the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Unfortunately, some truck drivers and trucking companies disregard these important rules either accidentally or intentionally.

Being sleepy is typically a mere annoyance. However, when someone is operating a massive commercial truck, sleepiness can be deadly. Multiple studies show that drowsy driving is extremely dangerous. Fatigued drivers are less attentive and less capable of making sound decisions. They are slower to react to obstacles or hazards. Driving after being awake for 18 hours or longer has the same effect on driving ability as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 percent. If a driver has not slept in 24 hours, this is equivalent to having a BAC of 0.10 percent – twice the legal limit for commercial drivers.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) limits the number of hours that a commercial driver may drive without taking a break to rest. However, some truck drivers violate these Hours of Service rules in order to complete their routes faster.

Semi-Truck Drivers Are Not Supposed to Drive Beyond the Limit

The FMCSA limits property-carrying drivers to 14 hours of drive-time. They are required to take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Commercial drivers are also subject to additional driving limitations including weekly drive-time caps.

The state of Illinois and especially the Chicagoland area have some of the highest truck volumes in the United States. Chicago has long been a transportation hub, and massive tractor-trailers are an ever-present sight on our interstate system. In addition, smaller trucks are found on virtually every major street and road in our communities, delivering goods or carrying construction materials. The surge in delivery trucks from online shopping has only made the streets more crowded. While trucks are regulated by the government and drivers are required to have additional driver training, truck accidents are still a common occurrence.

Factors in Chicago Trucking Accidents

• Speeding – While speeding increases the risk of accident for any vehicle on the road, the increased weight and decreased stopping distance of a truck only add to the danger.

• Driving Under the Influence – A truck driver’s perception can be impacted if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

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Currently, the trucking industry in the United States is experiencing a critical shortage of truck drivers. Industry experts have reported that companies have been struggling to recruit new drivers for the past several years, and the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted their ability to provide drivers with the proper training. At the same time, the need to ship cargo has increased since there has been a surge in e-commerce during the pandemic. 

These factors have combined to create a situation where fewer drivers are available to meet the increasing demand for shipping, which has made it more likely that drivers will be spending more time on the road. Because of this, truck drivers are more likely to push themselves beyond their limits, increasing the chances that they will be fatigued or drowsy while behind the wheel. This can lead to dangerous truck accidents, and in these cases, victims will need to work with an attorney to determine how they can hold a negligent truck driver and trucking company accountable for their injuries and damages.

Dangers of Truck Driver Fatigue

Federal hours of service regulations place restrictions on the amount of time commercial truck drivers can spend driving. In addition to limits on the number of hours they can drive at a time, they are required to take regular breaks and spend a certain number of hours off-duty after a shift behind the wheel, and there is a limit on the number of hours they can drive each week. 

The winter is one of the most dangerous times of the year to be on the road. Winter weather can lead to snow and ice on the roadway, as well as reduced visibility, increasing the risk that drivers will lose control of their vehicles. Even in clear weather, low temperatures can lead to safety issues, such as “black ice” that may not be noticeable until it causes a vehicle to lose traction. These safety concerns can affect commercial trucks even more than other vehicles, since due to the large size and weight of tractor-trailer trucks, they require more time and distance to come to a stop, and winter weather conditions can cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle. To prevent truck accidents, drivers should be sure to follow the proper safety procedures during the winter.

Commercial Truck Safety in the Winter

While truck drivers should take care to drive safely at all times, they will need to take additional measures to ensure that they can operate their vehicles correctly and avoid collisions during the winter. These measures include:

• Performing pre-trip inspections - A truck’s systems should be inspected closely to identify and address any safety issues before beginning a delivery trip. Drivers should ensure that tires are properly inflated and can provide enough traction, that brakes and trailer couplings are functioning correctly, that antifreeze and coolant levels are topped up, and that windshield wipers and defrosters are working properly, 

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