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Driving Log Violations

Falsifying Driving Logs

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations require truck drivers to keep a logbook of their time. They are supposed to record the number of hours and miles driven, the breaks taken and the maintenance checks performed. Despite the regulations, drivers can be very creative with their logbooks, using them to hide violations of their hours of service and other requirements.

A law firm with the ability to spot driving log violations.

At the Carmel, Indiana, law firm of Wagner Reese & Crossen, we have a distinct advantage when reviewing driving logs to find violations. Our executive director, Chuck Stratis, was formerly the risk manager for a large trucking company. He knows exactly how drivers falsify logs.

Driving log violations often hide speeding and inadequate rest

Often, the edited logs hide violations that could be factors in an accident. Chuck has the experience to discover driving log violations. This allows us to determine whether the trucking company and the driver were responsible for the accident. If you have been injured, contact a law firm with insider knowledge of the trucking industry. Call Wagner Reese & Crossen at 800-792-0332 for your free initial consultation.

Some of the required logbook entries that are frequently changed include:

  • Number of hours driven
  • Number of miles driven
  • Time spent fueling, unloading and waiting
  • Time spent performing inspections
  • Time spent on rest breaks
  • Food and motel receipts

By altering items like these, drivers can make it seem as if they were following regulations that limit their time on the road and their fatigue. If we uncover a false report in a logbook, we may be able to make a strong case for driver fatigue as an important factor in causing your truck accident.

What our trucking accident litigation team can discover when reviewing driving logs

As a former truck industry insider, Chuck Stratis knows the strategies that drivers use to falsify their logs. He analyzes the distances driven, times recorded in the logbook, and bills of lading. He knows the routes that truckers use and how long it should take a trucker to get from point of origin to point of destination. Using this knowledge, he can quickly see that a driver used a non-truck route to speed up the trip. He can prove that a driver exceeded the speed limit consistently. He can tell if an overweight truck used an alternate road to avoid inspection and weighing. With the help of Chuck’s knowledge and experience, the attorneys at Wagner Reese & Crossen can win your case.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, contact the law firm with the ability to determine whether logbook violations exist. Call Wagner Reese & Crossen for a free initial consultation.

An Indiana law firm with a national trucking accident practice