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The math isn’t quite right. The driver’s log says he only drove so many hours the day of your Maryland truck accident, but you know that particular drive takes longer. Are you right to be suspicious? Yes, according to reports from other truckers.
Truck drivers often refer to their mandatory driver logs as “comic books,” simply because the handwritten logs are so easy to falsify. A driver who spends hours at a time behind the wheel by himself has little accountability, and the pressure to modify the books to meet federal requirements while getting the job done on time can be overwhelming.
Truckers don’t typically have a set schedule. A driver responsible for the exact same load every week will still encounter variables, such as traffic changes and a longer or shorter loading time in any given week. This can then mess up sleeping and eating schedules. It’s hard to plan for the unexpected, and delays can decrease productivity and push the time logs into a gray area. Truckers occasionally make mistakes, and at times, they may purposely falsify their logs to cover those mistakes.
In an effort to help drivers manage their time more productively and keep them honest, some companies are moving toward electronic logs. Until such technological advances become standard, however, you may want to be cautious about accepting a particular driver’s logs at face value, especially if that trucker has cost you a Maryland truck accident injury.
For more information on what to do following a truck accident, contact one of our skilled Maryland truck accident lawyers at Nickelsporn and Lundin today. Call 800-875-9700 to set up your free consultation.