Truck Company Safety Ratings
The First Step In Any Tractor-Trailer Accident Attorney's Investigation
All interstate motor carriers are required to meet minimum safety fitness guidelines established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. To meet those standards, the truck company must have certain safeguards in place to reduce the risks associated with:
- Commercial driver's license standard violations
- Inadequate levels of financial responsibility (insurance)
- Usage of unqualified truck drivers
- Improper use and driving of tractor-trailers
- Unsafe semi-trucks operating on the highways
- Failure to keep accident logs and copies of accident reports
- Using fatigued truck drivers
- Inadequate inspection, repair, and maintenance of semi-trucks
- Improper transportation of hazardous materials
In reviewing these safeguards, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration conducts annual reviews of each truck company and assigns a safety rating. The rating is based upon the adequacy of the truck company's safety management controls, frequency and severity of regulatory violations, frequency and severity of regulatory violations identified in roadside inspections, the number and frequency of out-of-service driver/vehicle violations, frequency of accidents, and the number and severity of violations of state safety rules.
In considering all of the above, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration assigns each truck company with a rating of "satisfactory", "conditional", or "unsatisfactory". A truck company rated as "conditional" or "unsatisfactory" means they do not have adequate safety controls in place. Additionally, any truck company rated as "unsatisfactory" is prohibited from dispatching their trucks and conducting operations.
The first step for any Missouri Semi-Truck Injury Lawyer is to investigate the company's rating. This information can be found online at www.safersys.org.