How Many Hours Can a Trucker Drive in One Day?

Drowsy driving is a serious problem among truckers, and it can have devastating consequences. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), fatigue contributes to an estimated 13 percent of fatal and injury truck crashes.

Since spending long hours on the road with little mental stimulation can result in fatigue, the FMCSA has established hours-of-service rules that all truck drivers must follow. The Texas Highway Patrol Division has also devised regulations regarding hours of service that interstate commerce drivers and property carriers must abide by when on duty.

Despite these regulations, catastrophic collisions involving fatigued truck drivers still occur fairly frequently. If you were hurt in a truck accident with a drowsy driver, you may be eligible for compensation to cover the costs associated with treating your injuries.

Contact the Cooper Law Firm to discuss your case with a Texas truck accident attorney and determine if you have grounds for a claim. Attorney N. Eric Cooper is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Gregg County Bar Association. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free case evaluation.

How Many Hours Can a Trucker Drive in One Day?

Pursuant to the hours-of-service rules established by the FMCSA, drivers carrying passengers cannot drive more than 10 hours after eight consecutive hours off duty, and those carrying property cannot drive more than 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Additionally, passenger-carrying drivers cannot drive after having spent 15 hours on duty, and property-carrying drivers cannot drive after more than 14 consecutive hours on duty.

In the state of Texas, there is an exception to the 14-hour limit for property-carrying drivers. Truckers may extend this limit by two hours if they:

• Are released from duty at the same reporting location as their previous five trips;
• Return to the same reporting location after 10 consecutive hours of rest; and
• Have not applied this exception in the last six days, unless it was following a 34-hour restart of a 7/8 day period.

How Many Hours Can a Trucker Drive in One Week?

Truckers may not drive more than 60 total hours in any period of seven consecutive days or 70 total hours in any period of eight consecutive days. A driver may restart the 7/8 day period after spending at least 34 consecutive hours off duty.

Truckers are supposed to log their travel times, which means there should always be proof if a driver breaks any of the above rules. Obtaining this evidence following a collision with a drowsy driver can be challenging, though, which is why you should turn to a truck accident attorney for help.

If you were hurt in a truck accident with a fatigued driver, the team at the Cooper Law Firm will handle the legal aspects of your case, like gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses, so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a free consultation with a truck accident lawyer in Texas. You can learn more about personal injury claims involving truckers by visiting the USAttorneys website.