How Dangerous Are New Truck Drivers?

New truck drivers can be some of the most dangerous drivers on the nation's highways. According to FreightWaves, by 2021 new truck drivers had a crash rate up 3.5% of the total crashes in the trucking industry, nationwide. New truck drivers are responsible for multiple truck accidents.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) calls them "New Entrants." When a new truck driver or trucking company seeks a new DOT identification number, they must comply with the New Entrant Safety Assurance Programs which is overseen by officials from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

To try and make sure new entrants are operating safely they are under an 18-month monitoring period. They must fill out forms to swear under oath that they will set up safety programs to comply with Federal law.

The DOT looks to see if the trucking company is hiring safe drivers and conducting random and scheduled drug and alcohol tests of all drivers. Trucking companies are required to hire only qualified truck drivers with Commercial Drivers Licenses, and monitoring their safety violations and tickets. The truck driver and motor carrier may have to go through a safety audit. If they violate the rules in the first 18 months, they can have automatic disqualification and loss of their license to operate.

What should you do to protect yourself from new entrant truck drivers?

Because it is difficult, if not impossible to determine whether a truck driver is new or experienced, you must protect yourself. Even experienced truck drivers are a risk, stay safe by doing the following:

• Keep away from the sides and back of tractor-trailers.
• Avoid large truck blind spots.
• Always keep a safe distance away from trucks and trailers.
• Pass large trucks with rapid, wide passes.
• Never drive side by side with a tractor-trailer.
• Watch for erratic, sleepy, or aggressive truck drivers.
• Be cautious of wind conditions blowing trucks into the opposite lane of travel.
• Call 911 immediately after your accident.
• If injured, ask for an ambulance to be sent to the scene.
• Go to an emergency room the same day as the accident.
• Document everything with your camera.
• Never make an admission of fault until you have spoken to your personal injury lawyer, like those at Bull Attorneys
• Call the Kansas Trucking Lawyers at 800-WIN-BULL.