Every year, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance operates a three-day enforcement ramp-up of tractor trailer regulations across West Virginia and the entire United States. The 2018 event, known as International Roadcheck, has been scheduled for June 5 through 7.
The focus of this year’s International Roadcheck will be hours-of-service regulation compliance. This focus is due in part to recent changes in the Department of Transportation’s recent electronic logging device mandate. In addition, the top reason for placing drivers out of service in 2017 was violations of the hours-of-service regulations.
While the electronic logging device regulation change went into effect in December of 2017, it doesn’t directly alter hours-of-service requirements. However, the CVSA opted to emphasize on the hours-of-service rules due to the increased spotlight. Also, many drivers have yet to make the required switch to electronic logging. According to the CVSA, approximately 15 trucks will be inspected each minute during the event. In last year’s Roadcheck, approximately 15,000 trucks were be put out of service. The most common infractions were hours-of-service and brake violations.
Because of the increased likelihood of causing an accident, a fatigued tractor-trailer driver is a serious threat on West Virginia’s roadways. An individual injured in a collision with a fatigued driver may have a claim for damages that cover medical costs, auto repair bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An attorney with experience in personal injury law may be able to help a victim file a lawsuit against the responsible driver. In some circumstances, an attorney could negotiate a settlement between the individual and the tractor-trailer driver.