NTSB Makes Safety Recommendations For Single-Unit Trucks

On behalf of Lovett Law Firm posted in Truck Accidents on Friday, June 7, 2013.

The National Transportation Safety Board, the federal agency responsible for investigating major accidents throughout the nation recently recommended that the government should look into the possibility of requiring medium-duty straight truck drivers to obtain commercial drivers licenses. The recommendation is based on a five-year study that revealed these trucks are involved in a disproportionate number of fatal truck accidents.

The research on which the recommendations were based looked specifically at injury severity and crash characteristics of single-unit trucks during the period between 2005 and 2009. What the study found was that single-unit trucks were involved in roughly 1,800 deaths each year during that period and caused thousands of injuries. Single-unit trucks are not, however, required to follow many safety rules tractor-trailers are required to follow.

Single-unit trucks are defined as large trucks having a gross vehicle weight rating of over 10,000 pounds with non-detachable cargo units and al axles attached to a single frame.

Requiring commercial driver’s licenses was not the only recommendation given by the NTSB. Other recommendations included requiring similar safety rules for straight trucks as are required for tractor-trailers; including requirements for rear underride guards; and requiring underride protection and blind spot technology.
The safety recommendations also address modifications to enhance the ability of single-unit truck drivers to detect pedestrians and cyclists and to improve the visibility of single-unit trucks on dark and unlit roads. It isn’t clear whether the recommendations will be accepted by the federal government. We’ll keep our readers updated of any developments.

Source: Truckinginfo.com, “NTSB Says Straight-Truck Safety Needs More Attention,” June 5, 2013