Because commercial trucks are so large and can contain hazardous materials, there are extensive regulations regarding training for commercial drivers. However, training costs money, and trucking companies sometimes prioritize profits over safety. They may encourage drivers to get on the road before they are ready, which can lead to devastating accidents and injuries.

If you were injured in a truck accident caused by inadequate driver training, you have legal options for recovery. An experienced truck accident lawyer with Dulin McQuinn Young can walk you through them during a free, no-obligation case review.

Truck Accidents From Inadequate Driver Training

Trucking Company Responsibilities to Train Drivers

Before entrusting people with vehicles and attached trailers weighing up to 80,000 pounds, trucking companies are required to properly screen drivers to ensure they are qualified to operate these commercial vehicles. The basic requirements to become a truck driver include:

Be at least 21 years old
Be able to read and speak the English language sufficiently
Be able to safely operate the type of commercial motor vehicle they drive, based on experience, training, or both
Pass a physical exam
Have a currently valid commercial driver’s license (CDL)
Is not disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle
Pass a driver’s road test

Unless a driver acquired their commercial driver’s license before February 7, 2022, they must also complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a certified organization on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry. This training provides book education and skills testing.

Trucking companies must properly screen drivers to ensure they meet these criteria and do not have any disqualifying offenses. They are also responsible for ensuring that their drivers have the training necessary to operate their vehicles safely. Training may include:

Proper use of controls and equipment
Hours of service regulations
Electronic logging device information
Defensive driving strategies
Hazardous material handling
How to respond in case of an emergency
How to properly load and secure cargo
Vehicle inspection requirements
Relevant traffic laws and regulations

Trucking companies are also supposed to supervise their drivers. If they notice the driver is driving unsafely, they can take steps to prevent them from causing accidents. When trucking companies fail to uphold these responsibilities, they may be liable for resulting accidents.

Signs of Inadequate Driver Training

So, how will you know whether a truck driver was properly trained? The first cue may be how they were driving before the accident. Signs of inadequate driver training may include:

Tailgating or following too closely
Driving too fast for road or weather conditions
Not using turn signals
Weaving in and out of lanes
Making too wide of turns and overcorrecting
Driving on the rumble strip
Not checking blind spots
Cargo falling off the truck

How the driver acted and what they said after the accident could also indicate that they did not have sufficient training. For example, they may have said they were a new driver or expressed confusion about factors related to the accident. They may not have known what information to provide after the crash.

An experienced truck accident lawyer can help gather and preserve evidence, such as employment records, a lack of a background check, and driver logs, to establish that inadequate driver training contributed to the accident.

Contact Our Truck Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Inadequate Driver Training Case

Colorado trucking companies are required to ensure their drivers are properly trained. If inadequate training caused your accident, Dulin McQuinn Young can help you take legal action to hold the negligent trucking company and driver liable.