New FMCSA Rule Will Prevent Truck Accidents Involving Unsafe Carriers
This month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration kicked off enforcement of a new rule that Indiana truck accident lawyers have found very encouraging. The rule called the New Entrance Safety Assurance Process rule, makes it harder for new truck and bus companies to breeze their way through their first safety audits, by setting stricter compliance standards and holding the threat of revocation of registration over these companies.
Under the new rule, newly registered commercial motor carriers must strictly comply with everyone of the 16 essential regulations set down by the FMCSA in order to pass their safety audit. Failure to do so will lead to holding back of permanent registration, until the deficiencies are corrected within the time period specified by the agency. Failure to comply with even one of these regulations will now make it harder for new carriers to get permanent registration. These regulations are linked to important safety aspects, like random drug alcohol testing that commercial motor carrier operators are expected to conduct to screen employees, failure to maintain trucks and repair any mechanical problems, as well as failure to use qualified and physically fit drivers.
Following these 16 essential safety regulations are not the only way to prevent truck and bus accidents. There are other factors that may be involved in truck accidents like negligence of the trucker, driver fatigue and roadway conditions. However, these regulations cover some of the most important safety issues that are frequently a factor in commercial trucking accidents. As Indiana truck accident attorneys, we have been very concerned about the poor oversight of newly registered truck companies. These new carriers often manage to sail through initial safety audits even in the presence of violations. The new rule makes it harder to take even a single regulation lightly, ensuring that only the most compliant carriers receive permanent registration. This will prevent the presence of unsafe carriers, and truckers on Indiana’s highways and roads, and therefore prevent accidents.
