Michigan Truck Rules And Regulations

There was a time when the requirements to be a truck driver were nothing more than having a truck to drive. But that changed with a series of regulations enacted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), aimed at preventing truck accidents.

Michigan has adopted the FMCSA rules and regulations to govern its trucking industry.   Michigan Auto Law has compiled a section outlining the basic laws that truck drivers must follow, highlighting how a legal understanding of these trucking laws is imperative for a truck accident victim's successful legal case.

Finding the Dirt on Unsafe Trucking Companies

The truck accident attorneys of Michigan Auto Law are providing a step-by-step guide to finding the dirt on unsafe trucking companies. Our presentation shows you exactly how to use SafeStat, a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Web site that details the Department of Transportation’s assessment of a truck company’s regulatory compliance. We have made the instructions so simple that anyone with a computer and the Internet can sit down and discover most anything they want to know about any trucking company across the country.

History of Michigan's Truck Law

Rules and regulations governing truck driving have come a long way over the last 20 years. Michigan Auto Law gives a timeline of federal trucking laws, which brings us to what the trucking industry abides by today.

CDL (Commercial Drivers License)

To help reduce the number of serious injury and fatal truck accidents, each truck driver is required to have a commercial driver's license in his or her state of principal residence. Our expert truck accident lawyers list the vehicles that require a commercial driver's license and necessary special endorsements.

CDL Test

Our Michigan truck accident and personal injury law firm outlines the steps a truck driver must take to obtain a commercial driver's license, such as a physical examination, a written test and a road skills test.

Regulated Hours for Truck Drivers

Michigan accident attorneys outline the mandatory hours of service truck drivers must follow, and explain what falls within a truck driver's on-duty time. If a truck accident was caused by truck driver fatigue from driving over hours, our lawyers have the expertise to prove the case.

Truck Driver Log Books

Every truck driver in Michigan must prepare a record of duty status, called a log book. These log books contain information that is often a cause of trucking accidents, which experienced truck accident lawyers can use to prove violations of mandatory safety rules.

Truck Driver Drug and Alcohol Laws

It's shocking how many truck accidents occur due to truck drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Here is an overview of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration alcohol and drug testing rules for truckers with a CDL.

Pre-Trip Inspection

The pre-trip truck inspection is a systematic check of the semi-truck's parts and systems that must be completed by a truck driver before every trip, or at the start of the driver's day. Our accident law firm explains how a truck driver must go about the inspection, and how skipping a pre-trip inspection can cause a truck accident.

Truck Cargo Weight

Without a permit, the gross weight of a tractor-trailer combination cannot exceed 80,000 pounds. The truck accident attorneys of Michigan Auto Law explain how cargo weight must be balanced properly so that one axle or a set of axles are not overloaded and preventable truck accidents do not occur, as truck accidents due to excessive weight usually cause greater personal injury and more fatalities.

Truck Loading and Securement

Since the result of a truck load shift or a lost load can be disastrous, correct truck loading and cargo securement is very important for the safety of the truck driver and other drivers on Michigan roads. Lawyers experienced with truck accidents caused by truck load shifts or failure to secure loads correctly understand that such accidents are almost always preventable.

Reflective Tape Prevents Michigan Truck Accidents

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requires all commercial trucks to be equipped with highly reflective tape or its equivalent in the form of reflectors so they are easier to see, and a recent study found that the required reflective tape is effective in preventing crashes.

Our truck accident lawyers know the regulations of the truck industry inside and out, and we work with some of the top trucking experts from around the country. This knowledge is an invaluable factor in advocating for our clients who have been seriously injured or killed in Michigan truck accidents. If you have additional questions or wish to speak with a Michigan truck attorney directly about your circumstances, please call Michigan Auto Law for a free consultation at . You can also use the free consultation form. There is absolutely no fee or obligation.

Michigan Auto Law charges its clients on a contingency fee basis, meaning that our attorneys are only paid if they win for their clients. This makes it possible for people of all means to hire the most qualified truck accident lawyers.