Commercial drivers often carry goods or spend a lot of time on the roads on behalf of other entities. Driving a large truck can be dangerous as it may pose safety risks to other drivers on the road if the driver is not trained well and the truck is handled properly.
This brings us to hours-of-service regulations.
The regulations mandated by North Carolina and the US make lane and interstate roads safer. These have limits on how long commercial drivers can focus on their job without a break. Hours of service restrictions are meant to reduce human driver fatigue and lower accident rates.
The 14-hour driving window regulation allows drivers to operate for up to 14 consecutive hours, during which they may drive for 11 hours after having been off duty for 10 or more hours in a row.
The 14-hour window has been considered a daily limit, but the period itself is not based on any specific 24-hour day. 11 hours for driving – There’s a commercial driver driving restriction enabling them to drive their truck for no more than 11 hours in total. And there is so much more you need to know before getting behind the wheel.
This is but one regulation to show why truck drivers need extensive training and experience to operate a big rig. Companies have to vet their drivers to make sure they are qualified to do so safely. For the safety of all passengers, it is important that drivers have an impeccable driving record and the necessary qualifications to operate their company’s vehicles. In order to ensure this, companies must conduct extensive background checks and regular reviews with their drivers.
If you decide to be an interstate driver, you can find Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations here. The FMCSA is a government agency and its responsibility is to oversee the trucking industry. One of the agency’s strictest rules is in regard to inspections.
Under FMCSA rules, all carriers must regularly and systematically inspect their vehicles. They also must keep detailed records of the inspections and repairs that their vehicles receive. These rules are designed to ensure the safety of the public. Maintenance and inspection of vehicles is a critical part of truck safety. When carriers or truck drivers fail to honor the rules, dangerous accidents can result.