The Covid-19 pandemic and supply-chain shortages have shown how crucial the global logistics and national delivery system is. We have all run into major supply issues for things such as food, household goods and even recreational goods. The United States is in the midst of a shortage of truck drivers, especially good, qualified, highly trained and safe ones. In 2019 there was a historic shortage, to the tune of about 80,000 truck drivers. This serious need that manufacturers and sellers have to get drivers on the road to deliver goods is, unfortunately, leading some trucking companies to cut corners and compromise their standards during the hiring process.
When trucking companies are less careful about who they hire to get behind the wheel of their massive tractor-trailers, it can pose an extraordinary risk to everyone else on the roadways. Many companies, especially in the midst of the current driver shortage, do the absolute bare minimum with regard to background checks. They often try to justify their actions by arguing that, so long as a driver had a valid commercial driver’s license, he or she was qualified to drive. Trucking companies desperate for drivers will intentionally look the other way to avoid finding information that could indicate that a driver is potentially unfit. Some companies also find it difficult to find and retain good, qualified drivers simply because they aren’t always willing to pay fair and reasonable wages. The upshot is that many people behind the wheel of these trucks probably don’t belong there and are only driving because the companies hiring them were being careless and desperate in their hiring and selection process.
Currently, The United States’ shortage on truck drivers is so significant that Federal agencies are actively seeking new solutions and compromises in order to meet the demand. A new bill from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposes persons under 21 be allowed to operate tractor-trailers in interstate commerce. But In the age of cell phone addiction and distracted driving, especially amongst teens, these new “solutions” to the semi-truck driver shortage may cause more problems than they solve with regard to safety on the roads.
If someone you love is injured by a tractor-trailer, it is critically important that you hire a law firm that has specific and specialized knowledge about the trucking industry and hiring and training processes amongst trucking companies. The law firm of Obral, Silk & Pal, LLC has the knowledge and experience necessary to handle your truck wreck case. Our truck accident attorneys achieve real results for their clients that have suffered injury from tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles.
Injuries changes lives… So do we.