A rule change by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will now require approximately 3 million commercial drivers to log their hours electronically. Since 1938, drivers in Arkansas and around the country have been required to log their hours on paper, but it has been argued that it is too easy to change them or create two sets of logs. New electronic recording tools will keep track of how many miles have been traveled and the actual location of the vehicle.
Those who own or operate their own trucks who are opposed to the new rule say that trucking companies can use electronic data to pressure them to work even if they want to rest. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association claims that the new technology isn’t proven and hasn’t established that it improves safety for drivers. It sued the FMCSA in an effort to block the new electronic logging rules from taking effect.
The rule will take effect in February 2016, and companies will be required to abide by it in two years. Drivers who live in Mexico or Canada but operate their vehicles in the United States will be required to use electronic monitoring devices. It is believed that the new technology will save $1 billion annually and prevent more than 25 fatalities each year.
Those who have been involved in truck accidents may suffer serious injuries such as lacerations or broken bones that may take a long time to heal. In the event that an accident was caused by truck driver fatigue, an attorney representing an injured victim may deem it advisable to seek compensation for the client through a personal injury lawsuit filed against the negligent driver and trucking company.