Increase in Truck Accidents Linked to Truck Driver Shortage

Across the United States, commercial truck drivers who have driven professionally for decades have begun retiring. However, younger drivers are not stepping in as replacements fast enough; this has left the trucking business at an impasse. Still, people and businesses depend on trucks to help them get the goods they need on time. Consequently, statisticians are noting an increase in the frequency of truck accidents, and they feel the reason may lie in the collective shortage of truckers.

Why the Trucking Industry Is Seeing a Job Applicant Drop-Off

Despite trucking being a reasonably well-paying job, plenty of job seekers avoid getting into the truck driving field. Their hesitance is due to a variety of reasons. For instance, some people do not enjoy the idea of driving for eight or more hours a day. Others would rather not spend the upfront cash to lease a truck in the hopes of buying it one day. Many individuals would rather have a job that allows them to come home at a set time each day instead of being away from family, possibly for days or weeks at a time.

To be clear, men and women are still becoming truckers. However, their ranks have dwindled, and they may be more prone to truck accidents.

Truckers Are Frequently Driven to Exhaustion

Although truck drivers are supposed to be held to strict timeframes in terms of how long they can be behind the wheel, companies are notorious for working their truckers beyond the legal driving limits. The longer a trucker drives without getting quality sleep, the lower the trucker’s reflexes and cognitive abilities become. Without solid sleep hygiene routines, truckers risk falling asleep in their cabs while driving and tend to make poor judgments on the highways.

New Truckers May Not Be Well-Trained

Maintaining and driving a truck takes special training. Newer truckers may not have the expertise required to safely traverse the roadways. Instead, companies may push them into positions too quickly in order to get them actively working.

When an inexperienced truck driver hits the pavement, the trucker puts everyone at risk. Additionally, a trucker without full knowledge of how to care for a big rig may miss red flags related to maintenance issues that can lead to breakdowns and wrecks.

Trucks May Be Pushed Beyond Load Capacity

Truck trailers can only hold so many boxes, barrels, pallets, and bins. Nevertheless, commercial trucking companies have been known to push the trailer beyond the limit in terms of amount and weight of cargo. A truck that is too heavy can easily tip over when turning and can even tip over during intense windstorms or bad weather.

How Interested Truckers Can Lower Their Chances of Crashing

People interested in becoming over-the-road or local commercial truckers should take precautionary measures to ensure they do not get in crashes. The wisest strategy to minimize the chance of an avoidable car-truck or truck-truck collision is to attend all trainings, operate ethically, follow all speed limits, and say no to illegal trucking behavior. By following these safety measures, incidents of truck accidents will start to decline.

Edwardsville Truck Accident Lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC Work with Injured Truck Accident Victims

Were you injured in a truck accident in Illinois? If so, make an appointment with one of our accomplished Edwardsville truck accident lawyers at The Cates Law Firm, LLC. For more information, contact us online or call us at 618-277-3644 to schedule a free consultation. With an office located in Swansea, Illinois, our firm proudly represents clients located in Belleville, Carbondale, East St. Louis, Granite City, Edwardsville, Chester, Waterloo, St. Louis, Madison County, St. Clair County, Monroe County, and Randolph County.