Truck company with poor safety record involved in fatal crash

March 11, 2014 (Press-News.org) Truck company with poor safety record involved in fatal crash

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is responsible for crafting the rules that truck and bus companies in the U.S. must follow in order to stay in business. These rules cover a variety of topics, but the overall focus is the same: safety. Indeed, federal safety rules are key to preventing truck accidents. While most trucking companies do their best to carefully follow federal safety rules, there are some companies that shirk their responsibilities. Unfortunately, when this is the case, accidents can occur.

Recently, a truck crash on Interstate 88 in Aurora, Illinois killed an Illinois Tollway worker and seriously injured a member of the Illinois State Police. The crash occurred when the worker and the police officer were attempting to help a driver whose truck had broken down on the highway. As they attempted to help the driver, another truck, operated by DND International, collided with the vehicle.

According to FMCSA records, DND International, which is based in Naperville, has over 40 trucks and 42 drivers on its payroll. In 2012, those drivers logged approximately 4 million miles behind the wheel. The records further show that DND International has received a 92.4 percent unsafe driving rating. This means that about 93 percent of trucking companies in the U.S. have better driving records.

Over the past two years, the FMCSA has cited drivers from DND International over 100 times for various violations of federal safety rules. In some instances, drivers were found to have violated hours of service requirements, which specify how long truck drivers can remain behind the wheel without taking a break. Even worse, drivers from DND International were involved in six accidents during the same period, one of which was fatal.

It is currently unclear whether the FMCSA is likely to take action against DND International. The agency is, no doubt, currently conducting its own investigation.

The reality is that many of the rules that this particular trucking company has failed to follow are essential to ensuring the safety of everyone on our nation's highways, no matter what vehicles they are driving. The FMCSA should come down hard on companies that demonstrate a tendency to allow their drivers to continually violate the rules.

For those who have been injured in accidents with large trucks, it is important to remember that you have rights. For more information, consider speaking to an experienced personal injury attorney, who can tell you about your options.