The Role of Logbooks in Truck Accident Investigations
New Jersey truck accidents can occur due to many different issues and human errors, most of which are avoidable. The goal of a truck accident investigation is to determine why the crash happened, who is responsible and how it can be prevented in the future. A logbook can provide critical evidence against a negligent truck driver or trucking company.
What Is a Truck Driver Logbook?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is responsible for enforcing many rules, regulations and safety standards regarding commercial trucking. One rule designed to improve accountability in the trucking industry is the requirement of electronic logging devices (ELDs) to be used by truck drivers to track their duty status. These are also known as driver logbooks.
What Data Is Recorded in a Driver’s Logbook?
The main purpose of a truck driver logbook is to create a record of driver duty status and track their hours of service (HOS). FMCSA regulations place an 11-hour limit on a commercial motor vehicle driver’s ability to operate a commercial truck (after 10 consecutive hours off-duty). There is also a 14-hour drive limit after coming on duty.
HOS rules are in place to help prevent truck accidents caused by drowsy truck drivers. This is a significant risk due to the nature of their job. Truck drivers must drive for long periods, typically alone, and often overnight. Recording hours of service and duty status can help ensure a driver does not drive beyond what is legally permitted without a break.
In addition to driver hours and rest breaks, logbooks can also record total miles traveled in the truck, time spent loading and unloading cargo into the truck, and the driver’s shift start and end times. Together, this data can show a timeline of the truck and driver in the hours and days leading up to a crash.
How Can a Logbook Be Used to Determine Fault for a Trucking Accident?
Accessing logbook and ELD information as part of a truck accident investigation is critical, as it can provide insights into the driver’s capabilities, frame of mind and behaviors at the time of the crash – such as whether fatigue or speeding may have played a role.
If the truck driver was honest in the logbook, the data may prove HOS violations, such as a driver failing to take mandatory rest breaks or exceeding legal driving limits due to employer pressure to make faster deliveries.
If the information in the driver’s logbook was falsified, either by the driver or the trucking company, this can also provide proof against the defendant. Discrepancies in truck driver hours compared to GPS data, for instance, could be signs of logbook fraud and negligence by the trucking company.
Finally, logbooks may provide information regarding how often a truck is being inspected and maintained. Truck drivers must fill out daily inspection reports as part of their duties. Any evidence of missing or broken parts, damaged equipment, skipped inspections, ignored safety problems, or falsified records can prove that the truck was operated in an unsafe condition.
How to Access a Logbook During Your Truck Accident Case
If you get hurt in a New Jersey trucking accident, a paper or electronic logbook can provide an important piece of evidence to prove negligence in your personal injury case. Accessing this logbook may require assistance from an experienced truck accident attorney.
A trucking company may try to hide records and evidence of its own negligence. A personal injury attorney can access the electronic database or app used by the trucking company or subpoena hours-of-service records from the employer as part of the investigation process. If a logbook presents evidence of liability, your lawyer will find and utilize it.