Negligent Hiring: Truck and 18-Wheeler Accidents Caused by Unqualified Drivers

Request Free Consultation

Negligent hiring in the trucking industry can have devastating consequences, leading to accidents caused by unqualified drivers. These accidents can result in serious injuries and even fatalities, leaving victims and their families with physical, emotional, and financial burdens.

When companies fail to properly vet and train their truck drivers, they are putting everyone on the road at risk. Negligent hiring practices can include inadequate background checks, ignoring red flags in a driver’s history, or not providing sufficient training for handling large vehicles like 18-wheelers.

So if you’ve been injured due to a trucking company’s negligent hiring practices, we want you to know you’re not alone. Contact our team of St. Louis truck accident lawyers at Miller & Hine at (314) 408-5708 or book an appointment online.

How Do Drivers Become Qualified To Drive A Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) In Missouri?

To operate a heavy-duty truck such as an 18-wheeler, tow truck, or garbage truck in Missouri, a driver must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Prospective drivers may need to pass a criminal background test and get fingerprinted to become a CMV driver.

Additionally, it is required for entry-level drivers to complete an Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) program before being able to take the CDL test. This ELDT requirement was recently instated as of February 2022 by the Federal Motor Carrer Safety Administration (FMCSA). Before this, drivers could just study the study guide and take the CDL skills test.

After hiring a trucker, training requirements for different motor carriers vary. Some send their new truckers to a supplemental third-party driving school, and some train them on-site. Often, truckers are usually sent out with a company trainer on the road for 4-6 weeks.

Do We Vet And Train Truckers Enough?

In an article written for Time Magazine, reporter Alana Semuels asserts that truckers aren’t trained enough in comparison to other skill-based vocations. Comparatively, barber or cosmetologists are required to have 1,000 hours or more of training before they can get a license.

Even if a trucker is constantly working in the 4-6 weeks of on the job training, those total hours are no-where near the amount of what it takes to just get behind the chair at a hair salon. In contrast, truckers are put behind the wheel of a vehicle that can easily harm other people due to carelessness and negligence.

Additionally, negligent truck companies often fall short in conducting thorough background checks and vetting processes for their truckers, which can have severe consequences on road safety.

This negligence can lead to hiring drivers with histories of:

This negligence not only endangers the lives of other road users but also exposes the company to legal liabilities and reputational damage. Proper vetting and background checks are essential measures that ensure only qualified and reliable drivers are behind the wheel, promoting safer roads and protecting public safety.

Miller & Hine Fights Against Negligent Truck Companies In Missouri

A trucking company shouldn’t be able to get away with negligent hiring practices that harm hundreds of innocent people each year. If you’ve been hurt, we want to hear from you. Call the St. Louis personal injury lawyer team at Miller & Hine at (314) 408-5708 or book a free case review and consultation online today.