Truck Accidents’ Category
Pickup Truck Driver Killed in Texas 18-Wheeler Accident
Saturday, October 1st, 2011
A pickup truck driver was killed in an accident involving an 18- wheeler on Loop 1604 in Texas last week. The cattle truck was carrying about 180 cows. According to authorities, the two vehicles were traveling in the same direction, when the truck seems to have rolled over on the pickup truck. The driver was killed instantly. Authorities are trying to determine the cause of the rollover.
Rollover accidents are some of the most devastating accidents involving tractor-trailers and 18- wheelers. Unfortunately, these accidents are far too frequent, and often involve certain types of trucks, like tank trucks. One of...
Tanker Truck Driver Killed in Wheeler County Accident
Monday, September 26th, 2011
A tanker truck driver was killed, and another was seriously injured in a tractor-trailer accident in Wheeler County last week. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the accident involved a Mack tractor-trailer and a Peterbilt on State Highway 152. The Mac tanker truck jackknifed on impact, while the Peterbilt went off the roadway, rolled over, and burst into flames.
The driver of the Mack truck was declared dead at the scene. The driver of the Peterbilt truck suffered injuries, and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Commercial trucking can be a lonely and tedious, not to mention, strenuous...
NTSB Recommends Cell Phone Ban for All Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers
Thursday, September 15th, 2011
The National Transportation Safety Board is using the deaths of 11 people in a distracted driving-related truck accident in Kentucky, to recommend a ban on cell phone use while driving for commercial truck and bus drivers. The kind of ban that the Board is recommending would include both hand-held cell phones as well as hands-free sets.
In December, the Department of Transportation banned texting while driving for commercial truck and bus riders. That ban was recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has since also recommended a ban on cell phone use while driving for boat operators.
The ban on...
Controversial Mexican Trade Agreement Increases Trucking Accident Concerns
Friday, August 5th, 2011
Under the terms of a new agreement between the United States and Mexico, Mexican freight trucks will begin plying US highways as early as next month. Over the next three years, approximately 900 Mexican trucks are expected to be hauling freight across the United States. Concerns are high about what this means for trucking safety in this country.
The Department of Transportation says that there's no need for concern. The agency plans to install on-board recorders on these trucks to monitor drivers. It also plans to conduct frequent drug testing, and require Mexican truck drivers to speak English.
All this sounds...
Legislation to Prevent Drug Use-Related Truck Accidents Introduced in Congress
Thursday, May 26th, 2011
A group of senators have introduced a legislation that aims to reduce the number of truck drivers out there operating 18-wheelers under the influence of drugs. While current federal laws prohibit drivers from operating tractor-trailers under the influence of drugs, there are many loopholes in the current laws that allow such drivers to slip through the cracks.
The legislation called the Safe Roads Act would create a database that includes positive commercial truck driver drug test results. The database would include information from around the country, and would be available to trucking companies. These companies will be able to scan...
Survey Reveals Need for Good Driving Examples for Teens
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
Car accidents continue to remain the number one cause of death for American teenagers. That fact of life has not changed despite the decline in traffic accident fatalities over the past few years. Now, a new study by Ford Motor Company seems to indicate that many undesirable teen driving practices like speeding and distracted driving, may be picked up right at home.
According to the survey, 82% of teenagers reported seeing their parents displaying undesirable driving practices on the road. These practices include driving at excessive speeds and using a cell phone or texting while driving. As a Read More »
Truck Tire Tread Separation Blamed in San Antonio Accident
Monday, May 23rd, 2011
A truck accident in Guadalupe County, Texas is being blamed on tread separation on the truck tire. The driver of the truck, a man from San Antonio was killed when the tire tread on his tractor-trailer separated, causing him to lose control of his vehicle. The tractor-trailer then ran off the highway and into a ditch. The driver was killed instantly. According to the Department of Public Safety, no other vehicles were involved in this accident.
Tire failures and tire tread separation leading to loss of control are some of the most underestimated causes of tractor-trailer accidents in the US. ...
Jason’s Law Targets Safety for Truckers
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
A modified version of Jason’s Law, the bill that aims to increase access to safe truck stop and parking facilities, has been reintroduced in Congress. Its promoters hope that this time around, the bill which didn’t enjoy much success the last time it was introduced in Congress will be approved, enhancing access to safe necessities.
Across the country, states have been shutting down truck stops and parking facilities in an effort to cut costs. This poses a huge danger to truck drivers. When a truck driver has no access to a safe parking facility, he may be forced to pull...
Wrong Way Driver Arrested after Texas Truck Accident
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011
A gas tanker driver was killed last week in an accident involving a wrong way driver in Fort Worth, Texas. The motorist was apparently headed in the wrong direction on Interstate 30, when his car crashed into the gas tanker. The tanker immediately burst into flames, killing the driver immediately. The motorist suffered minor injuries. He has now been arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
The highway suffered extensive damage in the accident, and is likely to be under the best possible months. The motorist has admitted that he was driving under the influence. According to policeman, he...
Man Killed in Midland County Truck Accident
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
According to Midland County police, a man was killed in an accident involving two tractor trailers last week. The accident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning on FM 1788, South of Hwy. 191. The victim was traveling in a Freightliner tractor-trailer when he turned left in front of a Kenworth FedEx truck. The FedEx struck the side of the Freightliner. The driver of the FedEx sustained fatal injuries in the accident. According to Midland police, charges are pending in this crash.
Most tractor trailer accidents end with injuries and fatalities to the occupants of the smaller...
