March 28, 2014
Physics teaches us that the greater the weight of an object in motion, the longer it will take said object to be brought to a halt. This explains why it can take a tractor trailer up to a quarter of a mile to stop, which can often lead to severe Truck Accidents.
This data has raised some serious concerns about tractor trailer safety among federal officials and has led to a reform in the definitions of weight standards used by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
An article from Trucking Info explains enforcement officials will now examine the gross combination weight rating etched on the certification label of the power unit and trailer to determine vehicle weight. If the number is not printed on the label, the gross weight of the vehicle will be figured by adding the gross vehicle weights of the truck and the trailer. If there is a difference between these two figures, the higher one will be used.
The change was made in response to a petition created by an organization the represents law enforcement that found it difficult to determine a tractor trailer’s weight.
The Nashville Personal Injury Lawyers with Ponce Law recognize the dangers overweight tractor trailers can pose on the road and are hopeful the changes prevent future truck accidents.