A shortage of truck drivers has a direct impact on the safety of all road users because it means that more and more truck drivers are inexperienced, trucking companies are placed under increased pressure to deliver and, as a result, encourage their drivers to break federal laws like taking breaks and driving for a set number of hours. Inexperienced drivers and overworked drivers are more likely to have accidents.
Trucks are large and powerful vehicles, particularly semis, and pose a danger to the safety of other road users just by being on the road. Put an inexperienced driver or a driver suffering from fatigue behind the wheel and you have an “accident waiting to happen”. Read on to find out why there is a shortage of truck drivers as well as exactly how this shortage impacts on general safety on the road.
Why Is There a Shortage of Truck Drivers?
Despite the introduction of more technologically advanced methods of delivering goods like drones and autonomous vehicles, the technology is not yet ready to make any major impact on transporting the millions of tons of cargo that move across the country every day. Online purchases increase exponentially year-on-year which in turn increases the demand for truck drivers. The American Trucking Association estimates that the 60,000 truck drivers needed at the moment will increase to 100,000 in a few years time. So, why is there a shortage when there is such a high demand, not to mention the high unemployment rate?
- The life of a truck driver is not easy.
Truck driving is not a very appealing job because drivers spend long periods of time away from home. This results in marital problems and conflict within families.
- Increase in Federal Regulations.
Obviously, with the increase in the number of trucks on the roads and the number of accidents involving trucks, there has been an increase in the number of regulations truck drivers have to comply with. Many experienced truck drivers find these too restrictive and too risky.
- Poorly paid.
Truck drivers are very poorly paid when one considers the responsibilities and demands which come with the job. Truck drivers earn an average of between $40,000 and $50,000 per annum which many drivers feel is poor compensation.
- Negative impact on health.
Not only do truck drivers spend most of their time sitting, they also often do not eat properly because they’re on the road. Being sedentary for the majority of your life and eating unhealthy fast food takes a huge toll on truck driver’s health.
- Exploitation and corruption
In 2017 an investigation by USA Today found that trucking companies are pressuring drivers into lease-to-own contracts making them little more than indentured servants. They also infringe on their employment rights by misclassifying them as independent contractors to avoid reimbursing drivers for work expenses and paying them per load instead of for hours worked. As contractors, drivers miss out on employee benefits like health and unemployment insurance.
These factors put people off becoming truck drivers or remaining truck drivers. This means that many trucking companies have to resort to employing drivers with little experience and sometimes without the required credentials. This impacts safety because drivers have little experience dealing with vehicle handling in emergencies or signs of wear and tear on their rigs.
How Are Trucking Companies Negligent?
Trucks pose a very real danger for other road users and there are several federal regulations that protect motorists from this danger. A driver of an 18-wheeler must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) which involves a series of written and driving tests according to the licensing requirements of very strict federal standards. The CDL testing is designed to ensure that fatal and life-threatening truck accidents are prevented.
Federal regulations also contain other rules to mitigate truck accidents like preventing truck drivers from driving if they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% percent or more. It is the responsibility of the trucking company to make sure that their drivers are able to drive their trucks safely.
These are some of the ways trucking companies fail to do this:
- Allows drivers to drive without a valid CDL.
- Doesn’t provide adequate training.
- Doesn’t require drug testing on drivers.
- Hires drivers with multiple driving violations.
- Hires retired drivers to drive trucks they are not familiar with.
- Doesn’t do background checks on their drivers.
- Doesn’t report safety violations or truck accidents.
It is extremely irresponsible of trucking companies to flout federal regulations. Even if they are feeling the pressure with increased demand and a shortage of drivers, they should shave their profits to do basic things like training, proper background checks, improving the benefits they offer, and paying their drivers a good wage.
What Are The Safety Risks?
Trucks are the most reliable way of transporting goods across the USA. With 70% of all goods being transported in trucks, there are a lot of trucks on the roads. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of trucks on the roads coupled with far too many inexperienced drivers has resulted in the trucking industry developing a reputation of having careless drivers. 68% of deaths caused by trucks are passengers in the other vehicle. That is just one of many statistics that highlight the safety risks of trucks. Here are some others that show us just how dangerous truck accidents are.
- Truck accidents have increased by over 52% since 2009.
- Out of all fatal passenger vehicle accidents, 74% involve a truck.
- Approximately 30% of all truck wrecks are caused by tire defects.
- Around 130 thousand people were injured in truck accidents in the last year.
- Injuries from truck accidents are often permanently debilitating like head and spinal cord injury etc.
- 97% of fatalities in a truck accident were people from other passenger vehicles involved.
- Speed and stopping distance challenges are the main causes of accidents involving semi-trucks.
- Drugs and alcohol abuse are not one of the top causes of truck accidents.
- Mechanical defaults are the top causes of truck accidents, mainly tire and brake problems.
- Trucks that carry the maximum cargo weight are more likely to crash.
- Less than half of truck-related accidents happen on interstates and freeways, they occur on other major roads.
- 74% of fatal truck accidents were caused by trucks with trailers whilst only 27% were caused by single-unit trucks.
- 4% of accidents involving a truck and a fixed object are fatal.
- 3% of accidents involving a truck and a pedestrian are fatal.
- 31% of passenger vehicle occupants are killed if the front of their vehicle is hit by a truck.
- 25% of passenger vehicle occupants are killed when hit on the side by a truck.’
- Only 5% of vehicles hit by a truck from the back are fatal.
Conclusion
As you can see trucks are a safety hazard due to their sheer weight and size. They are more of a safety hazard to people in cars involved in an accident than those in the truck. They are even more of a safety hazard if they are driven by an inexperienced or unlicensed driver. The truck driver shortage issue also needs to be seriously addressed for there to be any significant decrease in accidents. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our truck accident attorneys fight for your compensation. Contact us today.
