Roswell Federal Trucking Laws & Trucking Industry Regulations

Commercial trucks are much more difficult to drive than the average vehicle. They are heavier and longer, making them a challenge to navigate safely. Roswell federal trucking laws and trucking industry regulations are designed to facilitate safe trucking practices and affect almost every part of the trucking industry.

Attorney Stephen LaBriola, LLP, has been representing victims and families of catastrophic injuries for decades. He is ready to serve as your advocate and will work tirelessly, no matter how complex your case may be.

Federal Agencies That Regulate Trucking

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, is the federal agency that established federal trucking regulations. The regulations issued by this agency are published in the Federal Register and collected and organized by the Code of Federal Regulations.

In 2022, 5,279 people died in accidents involving trucks. The goal of the FMCSA is to reduce and prevent commercial motor vehicle injuries and fatalities by mandating safety regulations to help prevent crashes.

Other agencies involved in the trucking industry include:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration. OSHA regulates off-highway operations such as loading and unloading at warehouses, plants, wharves, and shipyards.
• Department of Transportation. The DOT regulates interstate highway driving if the hazards are covered by FMCSA.
• Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA has authority over pollution prevention.
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NHTSA enforces safety standards for vehicles, including commercial trucks.
• Federal Highway Administration. The FHWA regulates the size and weight of trucks to ensure they are in compliance with federal regulations.

Federal Regulations for Drivers

Hours of Service Rules

Federal law mandates strict rules for the length of time commercial drivers can be behind the wheel. The goal of the hours-of-service rules is to make sure drivers get the right amount of rest between shifts so they stay alert and prevent the well-documented dangers of fatigued trucking

The current regulations include the following:

• 14-hour driving window. A truck driver can work a maximum of 14 hours consecutively. If they reach 14 hours, they cannot drive until they take 10 hours off.
• 11-hour driving limit. Within the 14-hour driving window, a driver can only drive for 11 hours. The 11 hours start when the driver starts their shift, not just when they start driving.
• 30-minute break. Drivers must take a 30-minute break if they drive for 8 consecutive hours.
• 60/70-hour limit. A commercial driver cannot work more than 60 hours in 7 days or work 70 hours in an 8-day time period.

Other driver regulations include having a valid medical examiner’s certificate, which must be renewed every 2 years, meeting age requirements, and having a valid commercial driver’s license.

Truck Inspection and Maintenance Requirements

Safe driving means having safe vehicles. The federal government has regulations for the upkeep and maintenance of commercial trucks. These regulations include:

• Regular inspections. Drivers are required to perform pre-trip inspections, post-trip inspections, and have an annual maintenance check to identify whether there are any critical or dangerous issues.
• Maintenance records. All maintenance records must be kept for a year while in service and six months after.
• Driver Vehicle Inspection Report. The DVIR with pre- and post-trip inspection records must be kept for three months.
• DVIR. The driver must inspect the service brakes, parking brake, steering, lighting, tires, horn, windshield wipers, rearview mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment.

Hire a Federal Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accident claims are often more complex than a typical motor vehicle accident. They often involve several responsible parties and federal trucking industry laws. It may be in your interest to hire a federal truck accident lawyer to help manage the legal process if you are involved in an accident on GA State Route 400, Holcomb Bridge Road, or elsewhere in Roswell. Navigating this complexity also means adhering to strict deadlines, including Georgia’s statute of limitations for filing a truck accident claim.

An experienced Roswell federal truck accident attorney can review safety records, gather and preserve evidence, work with industry experts, and communicate with insurance companies. Having a knowledgeable attorney by your side means you have an advocate who can work with accident reconstruction specialists to help understand how and why the crash occurred, consult with medical professionals document injuries, and work with financial experts to document financial losses.

FAQs

What Is the Most Common DOT Violation?

The most common DOT violation, according to the DOT records, is falsely reporting drivers’ Hours of Service. Other common violations include unsafe driving, such as speeding, operating without a valid CDL, and violating vehicle maintenance requirements, such as inoperable headlights and improper tire tread depth. Violations can come with large fines and downtime for the driver.

What Is the New Law for Truck Drivers?

While not necessarily new laws, the FMCSA made several changes to regulations and policies in 2025 that include eliminating MC numbers, mandatory English proficiency for truck drivers, and new safety technology requirements, such as automatic emergency braking, an electronic safety control system requirement for a wider range of heavy vehicles.

What Are DOT Regulations?

DOT regulations are regulations created by the Department of Transportation. They govern the safety procedures for the trucking industry. Trucking companies and drivers must follow the rules for driving hours, drug testing, and vehicle maintenance. The DOT regulations also state the rules for licensing, hours of service, recordkeeping, transporting hazardous materials, and securing cargo.

What Is the 7/3 Rule in Trucking?

The 7/3 rule in trucking is the Hours-of-Service regulation that allows drivers to split their required 10 hours of off-duty time into two shifts. This enables them to extend their shift by splitting their off-duty time into a 7-hour and a 3-hour period. They must stay in the sleeper berth for seven hours, but they can spend the other three hours sleeping, eating, or doing other things and still fulfill their requirement.

Contact a Federal Trucking Accident Lawyer

A truck accident can turn your life upside down. Crashes involving trucks are complex and often result in serious injuries. Since the trucking industry is regulated by federal safety rules, investigating compliance with these rules and identifying responsible parties requires a hard-working, skilled attorney. Attorney Stephen LaBriola, LLP, is the attorney who will dig in and work to get results. Contact me today.