The professionals who operate semi-trucks must have commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). They must attend specialty courses and are expected to adhere to a much stricter standard regarding their conduct on the road.
There are also many laws that apply to commercial vehicle operators, including semi-truck drivers, that do not apply to people driving their own vehicles. What rules are different for those in commercial vehicles?
1. Limits on drive time
While the law does not limit drive time for passenger vehicle operators, there are Hours of Service rules that apply to commercial drivers. They are subject to daily drive time limits, as well as weekly limits on how long they are on the road.
2. Strict alcohol rules
Anyone over the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is at risk of arrest. Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard. A BAC of 0.04% is enough to warrant a drunk driving charge against a commercial vehicle operator. They can also lose their CDL for a drunk driving offense in their own vehicle.
3. The federal no-text rule
Distracted driving statutes differ from state to state. While most states have adopted no-text or hands-free laws, confusion as people move from one jurisdiction to another is common. Federal rules help prevent confusion by mandating that commercial drivers never manually handle a device while controlling a vehicle. They cannot type a text message or manually dial a phone without breaking a federal rule.
In cases where there is proof that a semi-truck operator violated traffic safety laws, their misconduct may strengthen the claims of the people affected by a crash. Reviewing the circumstances leading to a commercial truck collision with a skilled legal team can help injured people assert their rights effectively.