What Practices Contribute to Accidents?
The trucking industry is one of the largest employers in the United States, employing more than 3.5 million people and accounting for 8% of all jobs across the country. Despite its size and importance to our economy, negligent hiring practices within this industry have been a significant problem for decades.
1. Poor Staffing Decisions
Poor staffing decisions, such as improperly vetting and training new hires, leads to inadequately trained drivers getting behind the wheel of massive trucks, putting the drivers and other motorists at risk on the roadways.
Putting inexperienced or dangerous drivers on the road results in the following driving behaviors and errors:
- Poor speed management, including speeding or not knowing how speed should be adjusted for inclement weather or certain slope grades
- Poor decision-making, including appropriately changing lanes, passing other vehicles or stopping
- Poor time and energy management, including drivers not being able to assess their fatigue or attention levels, leading to drowsy and/or distracted driving
Industry-wide, negligent hiring practices have increased employee turnover, making it difficult for trucking companies to maintain competent staff.
2. Inadequate Training
Negligent hiring practices lead to inadequate training for new drivers. Many truckers do not receive the required safety procedure instructions or are familiar with the proper techniques for hauling and transporting cargo.
As a result, drivers that were inadequately trained often lack the skills and experience necessary to drive safely on our roads. Poorly trained truckers are more likely to be involved in accidents due to inadequate braking, improper lane changes, or other negligent driving behaviors that put themselves and other motorists at risk.
Work with a Truck Accident Attorney
Negligent hiring practices in the trucking industry are a critical issue that must be addressed. Poor staffing decisions can lead to inadequate training and negligent driving behaviors, putting everyone on our roads at risk for accidents. To ensure safety, it is essential for trucking companies to carefully vet and train their drivers, making sure they are adequately prepared for their roles on the road. With proper training and staffing measures in place, negligent hiring practices in the trucking industry can be eliminated, providing safer roads for all. Unfortunately, this is not the reality, and there are dangerous drivers on the road that should not be.
If you've been injured in an accident caused by a negligent truck driver, call the team at Jeff Chandler Law. We can help secure the compensation you need to move forward.
Learn more about how we can help with your case or schedule a consultation by calling (325) 309-5846 or visiting our website.