Drivers in New Jersey may worry when they take roads crowded with large trucks and buses. These large vehicles can provide unique risks and dangers to other motorists. The hazards can be accentuated further when truck drivers are fatigued or otherwise distracted, preventing them from concentrating fully on the road.
There is a system designed to monitor and log transportation hours that is gaining implementation in the trucking industry. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has mandated the use of Electronic Logging Devices, or ELDs, beginning in December 2017. It requires truck drivers to install a device in the truck to manage, track, record and share time on duty.
However, independent truck drivers have objected to the logging device, labeling the devices an invasion of privacy that allows government tracking 24 hours a day. The purpose of the logging rule is to prevent truckers from fudging their hours on paper logs. ELD technology works by linking directly to the engine and tracking movement and time behind the wheel. Truckers have also raised concerns that they could lose out on fair pay, particularly when waiting for loads.
The FMCSA says that the use of the devices will cut down on crashes by keeping exhausted drivers from keeping on the road after they can no longer drive safely. Driver fatigue and exhaustion can be major causes of serious accidents. When a large semi-truck is involved in an accident, it can cause major injuries to drivers and passengers on the road.
Anyone who has been injured in a trucking accident could consult with a personal injury lawyer to discuss the potential to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages or other expenses. A lawyer can help provide advice and representation to victims injured in a crash through no fault of their own.
