All the while that I am applauding our federal government for passing legislation to tighten the safety requirements of the business of transporting goods across the country with semi trucks - the trucking industry is working at cross purposes to prevent these new laws from actually coming to fruition.
A recent safety analysis begun by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration was intended to impose more stringent measures to evaluate the safety performances of the individual commercial trucking companies and their drivers.
Their purpose is two-fold - first they want to gather the information and make it available to the public and, too, they want to pressure trucking companies to improve their safety standards. The trucking industry is not happy about this.
In fact, they are so unhappy they have filed a lawsuit to impose an immediate stay of the standards. They do not want the safety data released for fear it could be used against them in potential lawsuits.
In addition, the harsher standards would paint many trucking companies as deficient - when they are currently rated much higher.
Please pardon this very immature reaction on my part - but this is typical. IF it was their child, their mom or dad, their aunt, uncle or friend that was killed in a truck accident because either the company or the driver had behaved negligently - then I'm sure they'd be 'singing a different tune'.
Unfortunately, it is because the industry shows a tendency to cut corners and put the safety of other drivers on the road LAST that there even needs to be regulations.
Call your congressman and other representatives. Insist these regulations go forward
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston 18 wheeler accident lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping injury victims seek civil justice. For a free no obligation consultation with a semi truck injury lawyer call the Baumgartner firm.
