Truckers in the United States drive many thousands of miles annually as they deliver equipment, parcels, supplies and large industrial items.
As they complete their runs, tractor trailers often have loads consisting of several thousand pounds.
Though trucks such as these are a vital element of the logistics industry, they can also pose substantial hazards on American roadways.
Because tractor trailers are so large, when they are involved in collisions, the resulting injuries and damage can be extreme.
Though tractor trailer collisions can be caused by dangerous drivers in smaller vehicles, equipment failures, or bad truck drivers, many accidents involving these trucks are the result of the trucking lines through which drivers are employed.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) restricts the number of hours per day a truck driver is permitted to drive.
These restrictions are referred to as the trucker's hours of service.
The intention is to prevent fatigued drivers from operating their trucks in such a way as to jeopardize the safety of other motorists.
There are times when trucking firms overlook their drivers' violations of these restrictions, and sometimes they order their employees to exceed the limitations in order to complete shipments more quickly.
By doing either of these things, the trucking firm may be responsible for creating a dangerous situation on the road.
A different type of dangerous practice on the part of a trucking company is to be careless or negligent when hiring new drivers.
In this situation, the trucking company fails to conduct appropriate research into a new hire's safety background before making a job offer.
It is possible that job applicants have circumstances and violations in their driving record which should make them ineligible for a position.
As an example, anyone with existing records of violations, or those who have previously been fired for poor driving should not be offered positions with any other trucking company.
Also, improper or inadequate training is another common failing within the logistics industry.
Because of the greater demand for shipping services due to internet shopping, numerous trucking firms need to hire new employees in order to stay competitive.
But, because operating tractor trailers requires a specific set of detailed skills, new hires must receive proper training in order to safely operate such massive, potentially dangerous vehicles.
But, some trucking firms simply do not invest the time and resources necessary for proper training, resulting in many dangerous drivers being released onto the roadways.
Finally, trucking firms have the duty to thoroughly maintain the trucks they own in order to ensure their safety.
Tractor trailers require routine engine and brake inspections in order to guarantee proper, safe operation.
When trucking firms make the choice to save money by neglecting these duties, the result can be deadly.