Hours-of-service violations are among the biggest red flags in a truck accident case because they often point to fatigue, rushed driving, or unsafe scheduling. These rules exist to protect both drivers and everyone sharing the road with large commercial trucks.
Our team of attorneys has handled many truck accident cases in Georgia and Tennessee – involving FMCSA rules, logbook reviews, and safety violations that reveal what happened before a crash. Drawing on trucking regulations, federal data, and years of case experience, we help clients understand how violations affect liability. You can explore our full range of support on our Practice Areas page.
HOS Compliance: Key Takeaways
- Hours-of-service violations often reveal patterns that point to preventable fatigue in truck accidents.
- FMCSA records, ELD logs, and supporting documents help attorneys uncover violations tied to trucking regulations.
- Preserving logs early helps secure evidence that may affect the outcome of your claim.
Overview of Hours-of-Service Rules
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created hours-of-service rules to limit how long truck drivers can work before they must rest. These rules include the 11-hour driving limit, 14-hour on-duty window, required breaks, and the 60/70-hour weekly maximum.
These limits exist because fatigue affects reaction time, judgment, and alertness. When a driver exceeds the speed limit, the risk of a truck accident increases significantly. Violations of these rules often form the foundation of a legal claim.
Common HOS Violations and Patterns
Some HOS violations happen because a driver is trying to meet a tight schedule or avoid missing a delivery window. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports show that working long hours, skipping breaks, and falsifying logs are among the most common violations in the commercial trucking industry.
Typical violations include driving past the 11-hour limit, taking shorter rest periods than required, or making edits to electronic logs. These patterns often appear when companies push unrealistic deadlines or fail to enforce basic trucking regulations.
Liability for Trucking Companies vs. Truck Drivers
Both truck drivers and trucking companies can be responsible for an hours-of-service violation. Drivers must follow the rules, but employers are responsible for supervising hours, reviewing logs, and making sure schedules are safe.
When a company ignores clear violations, pushes drivers to work longer, or fails to monitor ELD records, it may be liable for the resulting truck accident. Company pressure, poor supervision, and log manipulation all strengthen a negligence claim.
Linking Driver Fatigue to Accident Outcomes
Fatigue plays a significant role in many crashes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirms that drowsy driving increases the risk of collisions and reduces reaction time.
Fatigued drivers are more likely to drift between lanes, follow too closely, or react too slowly to hazards. Microsleep episodes lasting only a few seconds also occur, and these moments can cause severe truck accidents, including rear-end collisions, lane departures, and jackknife crashes.
Proving Violations Through Records and Logs
Electronic logging devices are now required for most commercial trucks. These devices record driving hours, rest periods, and time spent on the road. They make it harder to hide violations because the data is time-stamped and automatically tracked.
To prove an hours of service violation, attorneys compare ELD logs with fuel receipts, GPS data, weigh station tickets, cell phone records, and dispatch messages. Preservation letters are often sent immediately to prevent the trucking company from deleting or overwriting essential records.
Technology Used to Detect HOS Violations
Modern trucks rely on GPS tracking, telematics, and dash cameras that help verify a driver’s movements and behavior. These tools help attorneys identify patterns like long periods of continuous driving, late-night routes, or short rest breaks.
Since 2017, ELDs have been mandatory under federal trucking regulations. These devices automatically track driving time, making violations easier to detect and more complicated for companies to hide.
How Attorneys Build Timelines Using FMCSA Data
Attorneys build detailed timelines by reviewing FMCSA safety records, ELD logs and trip data. These timelines show how long the driver worked, when they rested and whether they followed mandatory break rules.
Mapping this data helps connect the hours of service violation to the moments before the truck accident. If the timeline shows fatigue or excessive hours, it strengthens the argument that the crash was preventable.
How HOS Violations Contribute to Negligence Claims
When a driver ignores required rest periods or a company encourages unsafe scheduling, these actions can support a negligence claim. HOS violations often show a pattern of unsafe behavior and poor oversight by the trucking company.
Repeated violations, failure to monitor logs or unrealistic delivery expectations may increase liability. These factors often show that the truck accident could have been avoided if trucking regulations were followed.
Get Help Today
If you were injured in a truck accident and believe fatigue or an hours of service violation played a role, our legal team is ready to help.
Contact The Roth Firm today for guidance and support, including a free consultation.
Trucking Regulations: Bottom Line
Trucking regulations exist to prevent crashes caused by fatigue and unsafe driving schedules. Hours-of-service violations often reveal the cause of a serious truck accident and help explain how the collision occurred. Reviewing logs early and working with experienced attorneys helps protect your rights and prevent crucial evidence from being lost.
Hours of Service Violation: FAQ
If you are exploring a truck accident claim, these frequently asked questions can help you understand the role of hours-of-service violations.
1. What is an hours of service violation?
It occurs when a truck driver works beyond federal driving limits. These violations increase fatigue and raise the risk of a truck accident.
2. How do attorneys prove these violations?
They analyze ELD logs, GPS data and supporting records. These tools help confirm whether the driver followed trucking regulations.
3. Can trucking companies be responsible for these violations?
Yes. If a company ignores warning signs, pressures drivers to exceed limits or fails to review logs, it may share liability.
4. How long are ELD logs stored?
Some logs are stored for months, while others may be overwritten. Sending a preservation letter quickly helps protect the data.
5. What should I do if I suspect fatigue caused the crash?
Document what you can, get medical care, and speak with an attorney quickly. Early action helps preserve important evidence.
About the Firm
The Roth Firm represents clients injured in truck accidents caused by fatigue, hours-of-service violations, and unsafe driving practices. Our attorneys understand trucking regulations and how to strengthen claims using logs and digital records.
Learn more about our team on our About Us page.