The size and weight of trucks make trucking accidents extremely dangerous. They can lead to severe injuries, and the possibility of fatalities is usually high. Sadly, a significant number of truck accidents are reported yearly. 4,998 large trucks and buses were involved in fatal crashes in 2020. Different factors may have caused these accidents, including the trucking companies.
Here is how this can happen:
Poor hiring procedures
When a trucking company fails to hire qualified drivers, perform background checks or train them regularly, they may put unskilled people with potential histories of reckless driving on the road.
Unrealistic expectations
Trucking companies always want to meet client delivery deadlines. While this can be possible without involving unsafe practices, some companies fail to implement appropriate systems and, in turn, impose unrealistic expectations on drivers. Accordingly, they end up violating traffic laws to meet tight deadlines.
Poor schedules
Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of truck accidents. A trucking company with poor schedules poses a danger to road users. Truck drivers should have adequate rest periods between trips to avoid fatigue.
Unsafe payment systems
The payment system a trucking company uses can encourage drivers to engage in unsafe behaviors. A good example is pay per mile. Despite being the most common payment method companies use, it can be dangerous. A driver may speed to complete more deliveries, which translates to more miles.
It may be best for trucking companies to provide drivers with adequate benefits or use payment systems that don’t encourage negligent behavior.
Poor vehicle maintenance
If a trucking company owns the trucks, it should maintain them. Failure to do so, a truck’s parts may fail to function correctly, which can lead to an accident.
If you have been involved in a truck accident, you should get legal help to receive the compensation you deserve.