Brake and hours violations take trucks off the road

Nearly 10,000 trucks were put out of service for violations during a June 2015 inspection conducted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance. California trucking companies and truck drivers are required to adhere to national safety standards. Brake and hours violations were two leading issues that took trucks out of commission. Brake adjustment issues accounted for 15.5 percent of the trucks inspected being put out of service.

The CVSA conducted 44,989 inspections and as a result, 1,623 drivers and 9.732 vehicles were taken out of service due to violations. These were the lowest rates since data recording began in 1991. Shipping papers and placards accounted for the leading hazardous materials violations. This year, 3.6 percent of drivers and 21.6 percent of trucks were taken off the road compared to 4 percent of drivers and 23 percent of vehicles in 2014 and 4.3 percent of drivers and 24.1 percent of vehicles in 2013. The inspections are part of a nationwide effort to remind drivers of proper safety precautions. Drivers were reminded of proper load securing procedures, and 2,439 violations were issued for load securing infractions.

Improper procedures can result in dangerous conditions for truck drivers as well as other drivers on the road. When companies commit violations such as putting an unqualified truck driver or an unsafe vehicle on the road, they may be held financially responsible for any injuries that result from the unsafe practices.

A person who has been injured in a trucking accident resulting from negligent truck maintenance may want to meet with a personal injury lawyer to discuss how to proceed. The attorney can use the trucking company's maintenance logs and other evidence in order to demonstrate liability when seeking financial damages on the injured victim's behalf.