Item: Flaxman Law Group
Rating: 5
Author: Clara Barman

Weather, Technology, and People All Affect Trucking Industry Safety

Published on: December 26, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Trucking collisions in Hollywood and other Florida cities occur for a number of reasons, including driver error and road design. However, three things affect the trucking industry as a whole more than other factors, according to experts. These three issues are people, technology, and weather.

Technology

Technology is changing the trucking industry in a number of ways:

1) By making trucking more transparent. Electronic logs, in-cab cameras, and other devices do not rely on driver self-reporting. Instead, they make it easier for truck carriers and even authorities to see what is happening during truck transportation.

Continue reading →

Truck Driver Screening Can Help Truck Carriers and Can Help Prevent Trucking Collisions

Published on: December 16, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck driver training is an important part of preventing trucking accidents in Homestead and other communities. Commercial truck drivers may be operating vehicles that weigh tens of thousands of pounds. These vehicles have many blind spots and in some cases may be used to transport hazardous cargo. For all these reasons, driving a truck can be more dangerous than driving a passenger car, and truck drivers are expected to abide by more rules and pass stricter driving tests. They are also expected to get adequate training to ensure that they can stay safe and keep other users of the roads safe.

Continue reading →

Illegal Truck Driver’s Licenses in Miami and Florida

Published on: December 9, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Commercial truck drivers must secure a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in order to be hired by a truck carrier and in order to drive a big rig. Getting a CDL involves driver training, a driving test, a strict written exam, and a dedication to following the federal rules established for truck drivers.

You expect that the big rig and tractor trailer drivers next to you has the training they need to stay safe on the road and that someone has checked to make sure that the drivers are qualified to be sharing the road with you. The problem is that may not be the case. According to a 2006 U.S. Department of Transportation report, there are about 15,000 license holders across 27 states (including Florida) whose licenses are “suspect.” Since that report was published, about one third of the suspect license holders gave up their commercial driver’s licenses or had them taken away, but safety experts say that illegal and unearned CDLs are still a problem on Florida and U.S. roads.

Continue reading →

Winds Can Cause Trucking Collisions in Hollywood and other Cities

Published on: November 21, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Many trucking accidents are caused by driver error, mechanical failure, and road design issues in Hollywood and other Florida cities. Surprisingly, though, winds can also cause trucks to veer out of control. Earlier in November, two semi-trucks in Jacksonville were toppled off a bridge by winds. In that case, the accident caused only minor injuries and no damage to the bridge itself. In other situations, the outcome is not so good.

Professional truck drivers are taught how to drive in high winds. In some cases, winds can reach speeds higher than a truck is traveling. In cases where strong winds exist, drivers can sometimes avoid collisions by slowing down and proceeding with caution. Drivers need to pay extra attention to high winds when traveling along roads without many trees and when traveling on bridges. On bridges, the force of winds can knock a truck into the water. On roads without trees, there is no wind barrier and the wind may be enough to push the truck into another lane. At the very least, high winds in these situations can make it harder for a driver to remain in control of the vehicle.

Continue reading →

Get Ready for Heavier Truck Traffic

Published on: November 14, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Truck traffic tends to pick up in Miami in November and December, making trucking collisions more likely. As retailers and businesses get ready for the holiday rush, they order more shipments, many of which are delivered by truck. More customers are also ordering items for delivery at this time of year, which can also mean more trucks on the roads and in parking lots.

To reduce your risk of being in a traffic accident in Miami or your community, you will want to be aware of the increased traffic. You will also want to:

1) Maintain your vehicle. This is a good time to take your car in for a tune-up, especially if you will be traveling a great deal for the holidays or taking road trips to see friends and family.

Continue reading →

Study Finds Link Between Driver Payment and Driver Fatigue

Published on: October 17, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

Fatigued driving in Hollywood and other communities is a serious problem, especially among truck drivers. Truck drivers have to cover large amounts of territory as part of their jobs and operate heavy trucks that can cause catastrophic injury if drivers lose control of their vehicles or fall asleep at the wheel. According to safety experts, however, driver fatigue continues to be a significant factor in many trucking collisions in Hollywood and other communities.

In an effort to curb fatigued driving, federal rules have been established to limit the number of hours commercial drivers can stay on the road. Truck drivers must take a specific number of mandated rest breaks each week they work and must keep track of distances driven and hours rested in written logs. Drivers also trained to recognize and safely deal with fatigue on the road.

Continue reading →

Study Hopes to Find Solutions for Emergency Vehicle Collisions

Published on: September 26, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program is sponsoring a $1.4 million study being conducted at the University of Arizona to find ways to reduce emergency responder injuries and fatalities. It is hoped that the findings will help find ways to reduce traffic accident collisions involving emergency vehicles.

These types of accidents are far too common. In fact, the second leading cause of death among fire fighters across the country is emergency vehicle accidents. Since 1994, emergency vehicle collisions have resulted in over 1000 injuries annually and more than 390 fatalities. While passenger car fatalities have dropped in the past ten years, fatalities in emergency vehicle crashes have not.

Continue reading →

Everyone Has a Role to Play in Preventing Big Rig Crashes in Coral Gables and Other Florida Communities

Published on: September 24, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

According to safety experts, to really prevent tractor trailer accidents in Florida and Coral Gables, there needs to be a huge shift in attitude and everyone needs to take responsibility for preventing collisions. Everyone has a role to play:

Continue reading →

Award-Winning Truck Drivers Offer Safety Advice

Published on: September 19, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

At the recent National Truck Driving Championships sponsored by the American Trucking Associations, truck drivers were recognized for their skills and their dedication to the job. The truckers were also asked about their ideas for improving trucking safety and preventing trucking accidents. According to the winners, the best way to make our roads safer is to:

1) Encourage drivers to take the intuitive for safety.

One thing that sets the winners of the National Truck Driving Championships apart is that they enjoy learning and expanding their skills. When speaking to the media, some of the winners said that taking part in the championships expanded their skills and made them feel like part of the industry. When drivers are enthusiastic about their skills and see themselves as part of a team, some of the problems that plague the industry – such as driver shortages and high turnovers – may be less of a problem.

2) Improve working conditions for drivers.

Safety experts have already stated that one way to cut down on trucking crashes in Miami and other cities is to improve working conditions in the industry. Better pay and better hours could go a long way towards preventing fatigued driving in Miami and other communities by allowing drivers the lifestyle needed to rest and stay healthy on the road. The winners of the National Truck Driving Championships noted that their truck carriers helped them get more family time at home, something that they appreciated. Some safety advocates have noted that raising wages and not linking wages to tight deadlines would reduce the chances that drivers cut corners to make deliveries on time – at any cost.

Continue reading →

Health Solutions Can Help Prevent Trucking Collisions

Published on: August 29, 2014 | By Flaxman Law Group

There are many things that contribute to trucking accidents in Hollywood and other communities. Driver error, mechanical failure, and poor road design, for example, all contribute to their fair share of traffic crashes each year. However, one factor that causes many collisions is often overlooked: driver health.

The reality is that chronic health conditions can have a big impact on how safely truck drivers can handle their jobs. In addition, the very job itself can have a negative impact on health. The sedentary nature of the job, the stress of the job, and the fast food that is often available on the road can put drivers at risk for obesity, diabetes, cardiac issues, and other serious health concerns.

How Serious is the Problem?

Studies point out that truck drivers may have a higher risk for some health conditions. A study published the American Journal of Industrial Medicine concluded that 68.9 percent of truck drivers studies were obese and 17.4 percent were morbidly obese. In comparison, the general population has an obesity rate of 30.5 percent, with 7.3 of the country being morbidly obese. The same study found that truck drivers are twice as likely to be smokers when compared with the rest of the population and are more than twice as likely to suffer from diabetes. According to the study, truck drivers have a higher risk of psychiatric illness, back pain, and musculoskeletal problems. They are also more likely to get delayed treatment or lack access to treatment.

Continue reading →