Although there is a national trucker shortage, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will not be reducing truck-driving educator standards to make the training and hiring of new truckers go faster.
The FMCSA recently denied requests by two truck-driving schools to exempt driving instructors from needing at least 2 years of experience operating commercial vehicles before training others.
The requests were made in response to federal trucking standards that went into effect in February 2022. The new trucking rules are expected to reduce truck accidents. In addition to instructor qualifications, those seeking to obtain new CDLs or upgrade to another CDL class must have Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) before taking the commercial driver's license exam in their state. ELDT establishes a nationwide baseline for trucker knowledge.
Truck driver education reduces accident risk.
At Weinstein Law, we are glad to see the FMSCA did not bow to economic pressure and upheld improvements that seek to increase safety for all people on the road. While we realize the difficulties the trucking shortage is causing, the solution should not increase the risk of severe and fatal truck accidents to others.
Our law firm helps truck accident victims in Athens, TX, and the surrounding area recover the compensation they deserve after a crash. If you were injured or a loved one died in a Texas truck accident, contact Weinstein Law for a free consultation. We can answer your crash-related legal questions and help you decide what to do next.
Common mistakes made by new truckers
Inexperience is one of the leading contributing factors to deadly truck accidents. Again, this demonstrates the importance of education standards.
A Texas trucker with two weeks of experience behind the wheel recently gained national attention over their involvement in a 28-vehicle fatal crash. The catastrophic wreck happened in 2019 on I-70 in Colorado when a Houston trucker hauling lumber at 85 mph overused his brakes attempting to avoid a traffic jam. Tragically, the brakes failed, and he crashed into another semi-truck that was pulled over on the shoulder. The multi-car pileup killed four people.
Some of the most common mistakes new truck drivers make that put others at risk include:
- Misjudging turns, leading to wide-turn accidents and head-on collisions.
- Errors when backing up.
- Speeding.
- Reducing their focus from safe driving to follow directions in unfamiliar environments.
- Overconfidence.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Distracted driving, specifically texting while driving.
Who needs ELDT?
The new federal trucking industry rules establish minimum qualifications for commercial driving instructors and trucker knowledge, among other things.
ELDT is now required for anyone who is either applying for a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time, upgrading an existing CDL to a Class A or B, or obtaining a school bus (S), passenger (P), or hazardous materials (H) endorsement for the first time.
Trucker training standards improve safety and reduce the risk of severe and fatal truck accidents. Still, many safety advocates say that ELDT is not enough and that more must be done to ensure safe truck driving.
Helping East Texas truck accident victims obtain justice
Weinstein Law favors smart laws that protect roadway users and truck accident victim rights. Our law firm has been dedicated to helping those injured in truck accidents get the results they deserve for over 20 years.
If you were injured or a loved one died in a truck accident in Henderson County or East Texas, contact Weinstein Law for a free case consultation. At no cost to you, a member of our team will listen to the details of your accident, answer your questions, and explain your legal options. You should also know Attorney Jeff Weinstein represents accident victims on contingency. That means there are no upfront costs, and if he doesn't win, you don't pay.
Don't delay. A statute of limitations applies to Texas truck accidents and wrongful death actions. Contact Weinstein Law to schedule your free case consultation right now.