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Inadequate Training and Commercial Truck Accidents

Truck drivers are in a high-risk position, and commercial truck accidents occur more often than they should. When involved in a commercial truck accident, they run vehicles that are extremely heavy and risky. They occasionally transport commodities that could be hazardous in the event of an accident.

As a result, truck drivers and trucking businesses must take all necessary precautions to ensure the safe transportation of commodities on the roads. Ensuring that all employed truck drivers have the proper training and experience to operate a vehicle safely is one way to help reduce the frequency of truck accidents.

Statistics Related to Commercial Truck Accidents

Accidents can happen for many reasons. According to a study, inadequate training is to blame for about 27% of these incidents caused directly by commercial vehicles. To reduce the number of accidents that occur, new and returning drivers should receive adequate training.

In the United States,

  • More than 3,000,000 commercial vehicles are on the road.
  • More than 5,000 people are killed as a result of trucking accidents.
  • These accidents result in more than 100,000 injuries.

Shortage of Drivers

According to one survey, roughly 50,000 commercial vehicle drivers are needed in the United States. This scarcity affects many trade areas because the transportation industry is so large and requires many things to be transferred from one place to another for multiple firms. Because of the shortage of drivers, new staff has been rushed through training to guarantee that shipments arrive on schedule and with minimal spoilage.

Some new hires are younger, have less experience, and lack the necessary qualities to drive long-distance trips. In addition, new drivers may not receive appropriate training for the distances they must go to achieve their objectives, resulting in and maintaining a lack of understanding about potential hazards. Accidents involving commercial vehicles may become more common as a result of these conditions.

Having proper training and years of experience can reduce the possibility of accidents. So it is crucial to provide and monitor these young drivers to ensure safety. Short-term training is not enough. They need to be given additional training that can help.

Importance of Training

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required to operate a large vehicle or commercial truck. This license is required to guarantee that the driver has the appropriate knowledge to operate a commercial vehicle. This CDL, however, is insufficient to provide competent commercial vehicle driving training. To learn this ability, commercial truck drivers must enroll in an educational program.

Unfortunately, many of these schools only give short-term training or do not provide the type of instruction that people or organizations require. Many of these schools merely offer classroom instruction in paperwork, written exams, and reading. Some companies provide additional training with a passenger to help with initial driving trips.

When starting their job as a truck driver, many new drivers find the quantity of in-class training inadequate, and they may feel inadequate. Following the classroom examination, there is only so much time remaining in class to learn how to manage and operate large commercial vehicles safely.

Providing Adequate Training

Because many new employees only spend one week in the classroom, the task of running the car may seem onerous at first. Following the completion of classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training begins. New employees learn how to:

  • Examine their car
  • Where to find and operate critical features
  • Federal regulations that affect vehicle safety
  • What warning lights mean
  • And how to completely drive the vehicle during this phase

After completing this procedure, truck drivers are free to begin their first run with their new company. Due to driver shortages and the demand for fresh drivers, many trucking businesses will recruit a new employee immediately out of driving school. Other businesses demand that employees have a particular level of experience. These businesses may have a product that demands a higher level of expertise. While new employees may have a companion, many businesses are unable to spare the staffing.

Consequences of Inadequate Training

A lack of experience, insufficient training, a huge vehicle, and high-speed driving can occasionally spell disaster. To come to a complete stop at 60 mph, a conventional commercial vehicle must travel around 300 feet. Multiple injuries involving multiple vehicles are possible as a result of these variables. Many fatalities may be caused by accidents involving commercial trucks on the road. Victims of commercial truck accidents and the families of those who have died may choose to file a lawsuit against firms that fail to train their drivers properly.

For more information on how you can deal with commercial truck accidents and follow the right course of action, contact us today.

Jay A. Bolotin is a partner at the injury law firm of Young, Reverman & Bolotin. Serving the people of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, Jay dedicates his career to helping clients in the tri-state area obtain financial compensation after suffering serious injuries. He focuses his practice on cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, dog bites and animal attacks, and other types of personal injury incidents.

Years of Experience: More than 25 years
Registration Status:: Active
Bar Admissions: Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and Cincinati Bar Association