Commercial truck drivers have to fulfill more requirements to receive their licenses than drivers of regular passenger vehicles. This is important because if a driver is unqualified and causes an accident, the damage and injuries caused by a large, heavy commercial truck are usually much more extensive and serious than accidents involving only smaller vehicles. Therefore, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires a much more intensive screening process than a regular Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Drivers who operate commercial trucks and know they do not meet all of the requirements for a commercial driver’s license (CDL) will be found negligent if they cause an accident and will likely held liable for all of the damage and injury they caused. Furthermore, companies who knowingly hire or retain unqualified drivers may also be found negligent and responsible for the resulting injuries. If you have been in a truck accident, an experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Fayette County will know how to check into driver qualifications to help ensure you receive the maximum possible settlement.
Basic requirements for truck drivers to receive a CDL under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) include:
- A driver must have and demonstrate the skills to control the particular kind of commercial motor vehicle he intends to operate. Such skills include accelerating, stopping, moving the truck backward and forward in a controlled manner, operating all signals, changing lanes, and turning.
- A driver must be medically qualified and meet all the criteria set out in the FMCSRs for physical and mental health.
- A driver must successfully complete a road test administered by a licensed motor carrier and receive a Certificate of Drivers Road Test.
If a truck driver does not successfully complete all of the necessary requirements set out in the FMCSRs, he should not receive a CDL and should not operate a commercial vehicle to avoid putting other drivers at risk of injury. If you have been injured by a negligent truck driver, call Shane Smith Law at (980) 246-2656 today. An experienced truck accident lawyer is waiting to help you.