Florida ranks high in injury and death related crashes involving commercial
trucks, or semi-trucks. Our
Tampa Trucking Attorneys routinely handle cases that involve injuries and fatalities involving trucks
or tractor-trailers. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”) recently announced
a Final Rule which establishes minimum training standards for entry-level
commercial trucks drivers and bus operators who are seeking to obtain
their commercial driver’s license, more commonly referred to as
their CDL.
Under the newly approved Final Rule, applicants who desire to obtain a
CDL are required to demonstrate proficiency in knowledge, training and
actual behind the wheel training on public roads, along with additional
training obtained from a certified instructional program. The new entry
level Final Rule is scheduled to take effect on February 6, 2017.
FMCSA also established another Final Rule that establishes a national drug
and alcohol clearinghouse for commercial truck drivers and bus operators.
Once the clearinghouse is established, motor carriers will be required
to query the system for information concerning current and prospective
employees who have unresolved issues or violations of the federal drug
and alcohol testing regulations. The Final Rule will additionally require
motor carriers to report information about drivers that test positive
for or refuse to take drug testing.
Our attorneys litigate several cases each year involving injured motorists
throughout Florida, including Hernando County, Hillsborough County, Pasco
County, Pinellas County, Manatee County, Polk County, Orange County and
Sarasota County that have been injured by a truck driver. Should you have
any questions regarding a semi-truck related accident, please
contact us, your
Tampa Personal Injury Attorneys.