Sacramento Injury Attorneys Blog
Truck Driver Licensing Covers the Basics
Commercial vehicles are typically large, heavy, and much more difficult to control than passenger vehicles. Some of this is due to the simple physics of operating a 2-ton passenger car as compared to a 40-ton, fully-loaded tractor-trailer — it takes much, much longer to get the bigger vehicle up to speed and correspondingly longer to bring it to a stop. But commercial vehicles are typically much more complicated to maneuver and control, as well. It has long been recognized that these differences result in a much greater need to certify that commercial vehicle drivers have been properly trained and prepared to be on our roadways. Commercial driver licensing, as implemented under federal and state requirements and certification, is the first step in validating the skills of new truck drivers and in monitoring the driving records of experienced drivers. If a truck accident occurs and results in injuries or even death, an experienced personal injury attorney will know to review the status of the commercial driver’s licensing and license record as one important element in determining liability on the part of the truck driver or trucking carrier if problems are found.
