WHY ARE INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES?

Vehicle inspection and maintenance programs are vital to CMV safety. Therefore, employers whose inspection and maintenance programs are lacking will experience more accidents, more roadside violations, more vehicles being placed out of operation, and many other consequences. The vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements found in the FMCSRs apply to all commercial motor vehicles and the employers and employees operating them. With that said, a commercial motor vehicle is defined as “any self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a public roadway in interstate commerce to transport passengers or property when the vehicle: (1) has weight ratings of 10,001 pounds or more; (2) designed to transport 9 or more passengers for compensation of 16 or more passengers not for compensation; or (3) is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placarding. According to the FMSCA, all carriers and intermodal equipment providers engaged in interstate and foreign commerce (including officers, drivers, agents, representatives, and employees directly concerned with CMV inspection of maintenance) are subject to the vehicle inspection and maintenance requirements and must be knowledgeable of and comply with the rules.

If you have a question about an accident or injury involving a semi-truck and how these regulations may be important as applied to the accident call Roth Davies, LLC Trial Lawyers for a free consultation.