As a motor vehicle driver in Texas, you have to share the road with large and heavy 18-wheelers. Knowing more about these commercial vehicles can allow you to better protect yourself from a potential truck accident. If you get into a collision with a big rig, contact the San Antonio truck accident attorneys at Hill Law Firm Accident & Injury Lawyers for a free discussion about your legal options.
They Are Classified as Common Carriers
An 18-wheeler is a semi-truck that involves a truck cab (known as a tractor unit) with a trailer hitched to it. There are 10 wheels on the trailer and 8 on the tractor, giving it its name. These large trucks are known as “common carriers” because they are used commercially to transport property and materials for compensation.
They Must Comply With FMCSA Regulations
All common carriers, including 18-wheelers, are subject to special federal rules and regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is in charge of creating and enforcing these rules. Federal trucking laws encompass everything from truck driver hiring and training practices to hours-of-service restrictions.
They Have Weight, Height and Length Limits
An 18-wheeler cannot surpass certain size limitations that are imposed by federal law for safety reasons. The legal weight is 80,000 pounds in total with cargo. Heavier trucks must obtain overweight permits and use special signs. The standard height of an 18-wheeler is 13 feet, 6 inches. The maximum length of a semi-trailer is 59 feet in Texas, with some exceptions for certain types of cargo.
They Must Be Driven by Commercial Drivers
A driver with a standard driver’s license cannot legally operate an 18-wheeler. Truck drivers must have commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs), which can only be obtained after passing special courses and driving tests for certification.
They Need 40 Percent More Time to Stop
A semi-truck is so heavy that it uses special airlock brakes. Their greater weight and size means that 18-wheelers need more time to stop than passenger vehicles – approximately 40 percent more time, on average. It’s important not to cut an 18-wheeler off or abruptly hit your brakes in front of one.
They Have Large Turn Radiuses and Blind Spots
The design of an 18-wheeler means that these vehicles have wide turn radiuses. The average is around 55 feet. Keep clear of a large truck making a turn, and never try to pass while a truck is turning. Semi-trucks also have large blind spots on all four sides. Maintain a safe distance from an 18-wheeler to avoid driving in the “No Zone.”
They Have Cargo Securement Rules
Dropped cargo is a crash risk that is unique to commercial trucks. To prevent cargo from shifting or falling from the truck in transit, the FMCSA has rules in place for how items must be stacked and secured.
They Can Crash in Unique Ways
The design of an 18-wheeler can result in unique types of traffic accidents. Examples include a truck jackknife (where the trailer of the truck swings away from the cab at an angle), a tire blowout, underride and override accidents, cargo spills, and wide-turn accidents.
They Must Be Covered By Insurance
As common carriers, 18-wheelers must have special types and amounts of insurance. Hauling any type of hazardous materials in Texas, for example, requires a minimum of $5 million in insurance coverage. This insurance can be used by crash victims to pay for their damages after a trucking accident.
They Can Cause Serious Accidents
The immense disparity between the size of an 18-wheeler and the size of a standard passenger car can make these collisions catastrophic for the latter. Truck accidents in Texas can result in severe, permanent, disabling and deadly injuries.
Statistics from the National Safety Council report 730 deaths from large truck accidents in Texas in 2023 – more than in any other state. If you or a loved one gets injured in a truck accident, contact a San Antonio personal injury attorney for legal advice and guidance.