Freight Delivery Companies Are Making the Roads Unsafe
Without changes to the law, there will likely be as many injuries and deaths in 2018 as there were in 2017. Tens of thousands of people will be harmed or killed in numerous truck accidents—many of which will be caused by lack of sleep. Even moderate tiredness can impair the ability to drive, according to sleep researchers. As many as 1 in 7 truck accidents are caused by fatigue, and 1 in 4 crashes occurred when a driver was hauling for 17+ hours.
Why are there so many truckers getting behind the wheel of their rigs while exhausted? Trucking companies are responsible for two reasons: one, all trucking companies are ultimately responsible for their employees. If you were in an accident involving YRC Freight or any other company, they need to answer for their driver. Two, trucking companies are incentivizing drivers to minimize sleep and rest breaks through pay-by-mile agreements. By paying drivers 25 to 40 cents a mile, they reward drivers for driving for longer and longer hours. If this were a matter of bonuses or extra pay, maybe the drivers would be responsible—but most drivers can't make a living hauling freight at 25 cents a mile. Traffic, bad weather, or unexpected delays are part of life, but they can also completely derail a truck driver's ability to "make the miles" during a regular workday. Drivers can spend hours of their day doing work that benefits the company but is completely unpaid while under a pay-by-mile arrangement.
- Driving to pick up new loads
- Planning routes
- Abiding by federally-mandated rest breaks
- Waiting for loading
- Waiting for unloading
- Submitting to rig inspections
That's why so many drivers feel compelled to violate hours of service regulations. While companies don't officially condone violating regulations, industry culture treats hours of service as a game to beat—not a law to follow. Carrier-employed driving instructors or long-time employees will unofficially teach new drivers how to falsify or double-up on logbooks, fooling regulators while allowing drivers to haul for 18-20 hours in a stretch. While companies don't condone it, they certainly aren't trying to fix it either—why would they? Tired drivers means they get harder-working, more productive employees without having to pay much extra. The only way to change anything is to shine a light on company practices and hold both drivers and carriers accountable.
Call a YRC Freight Truck Accident Lawyer Today: (888) 493-1629
Large truck accidents are devastating. Victims of large truck accidents often simultaneously lose their livelihoods and incur tens (or even hundreds) of thousands of dollars in medical costs. Truck accident survivors and their families live on shoestring budgets while the company or insurer drags their feet in settling the claim.
Why? Because companies can afford to delay claims, but victims can't.
Arnold & Itkin levels the playing field for our clients. We put experts and investigators to work on each claim, helping our clients claim every penny from their medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished earning ability. Our YRC Freight truck accident attorneys take on large companies while our clients get a chance to heal and rest. As a result, our clients have won billions of dollars in verdicts and settlements to rebuild their lives.
Our firm forwards the cost of investigating and filing a claim, and our clients don't pay anything unless we win. Find out what your options are—call (888) 493-1629 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation..
