There is more to a qualified Louisiana truck driver than being able to back up a semi-trailer

Driving an 80,000 pound semi-trailer on Louisiana roads feels a bit like entering a port with a cruise ship or landing an airliner. Make one mistake, and destruction ensues. Rightfully, just like marine and aircraft pilots, truck drivers are subject to detailed training and qualification regulations. But this is where the comparison stops.

In a new FREE book by the attorneys of the Young Firm you get the crucial information about what to do and what to avoid after a serious vehicle crash. Order online now: A Guide to Steering Through a Serious Vehicle Accident in Louisiana.

The basic requirements for truck drivers are straightforward: aged 18 minimum (except for hazardous materials, age 21), speaking and reading enough English to do the job, truck driver’s license and proven driving capability, capable of loading, securing and unloading the cargo, medically qualified and successfully tested for drugs and alcohol. Of course, offenses like DUI or leaving the scene of an accident would immediately disqualify a candidate driver.

Even so, there is a shortage of trained and qualified truck drivers in the country and many motor carriers in Louisiana and elsewhere now employ under-qualified and poorly trained drivers. There are many reasons for this dreadful situation:

• The rapid growth of parcel delivery and logistics activities;

• The low pay, harsh life and long working hours of truckers;

• The high turnover of truck drivers leaving their jobs as soon as a better opportunity arises;

• The long process of training drivers, and high cost associated with federal and state regulations;

• The low qualifications of candidates.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) rules further state that trucking companies will keep a Driver Qualification File (DQF) on hand for each regularly employed truck driver as long as the driver is employed and for three years after. The rules indicate precisely the content, how long the documents must be kept and the frequency of updating.

What should the DQF contain?

• Driver application for employment;

• Medical certificate;

• Copy of commercial driving license and certificate of road test;

• Response from past employers for past three years;

• Response from state agencies on driving record for past three years;

• Response from state agencies to the annual driving record inquiry;

• Note on the annual review of driving record by the motor carrier;

• Listing of all the driver’s moving violations for the past 12 months;

• Information on drivers subject to controlled substances testing.

The importance of the DQF in case of a large semi trailer accident is not to be underestimated. Everything is, or should be, in this file to show that the driver is qualified and that the motor carrier adheres to the FMCSA rules. A significant proportion of Louisiana truck accidents are caused by driver failure; be it shifting cargo, health or drug related problems, fatigue or simple inexperience. It is the motor carrier’s responsibility to see that no truck leaves the base without a fully trained, qualified and experienced driver behind the wheel.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a Louisiana truck accident, contact the attorneys of the Young Firm in New Orleans immediately for a free consultation on your case at (504) 680-4100 (local) or (866) 660-7220 (toll free), or by sending us an e-mail.