Weightwatchers: Louisiana truck loads and weigh-station checks.

From a business standpoint, it makes sense to load a truck as much as possible. The additional wear on the equipment is more than offset by far lower transport costs per unit. What the motor carrier does not take into account, however, is the additional cost borne by the community: road and bridge damage, and higher risks of accidents.

Exactly the same reasoning applies to the way a truck is loaded. Motor carriers are in a hurry; the cargo has to be delivered on-time. So are truck drivers, who are mostly paid by the mile. It takes time to load a semi-truck properly, spreading the cargo weight evenly over the trailer’s surface and securing it. It also takes time to do this work all over again when part of the cargo has been unloaded and the truck must resume its voyage.

Federal, state and local regulations govern the cargo weight, weight distribution, and tire and axle load that are permitted in the various territories crossed by a large truck. Truck weigh stations are present alongside all major Louisiana highways, where truck drivers are required to stop when they are operating.

Why do overloaded or improperly loaded trucks cause accidents?

There are several reasons why the truck’s cargo can be the cause of a crash:

• Excess weight can cause one or more tires to blow out;
•  An overloaded truck needs a longer distance to come to a halt;
• Overloaded trucks move too slowly uphill and too quickly going down;
• When the cargo load is not distributed evenly, the truck’s steering and braking are hindered;
• Excess weight and uneven loads cause trucks to roll-over and jackknife.

Not only do heavy truck accidents cause terrible damage, getting fair compensation from a motor carrier can be exceedingly challenging, as outlined in a number of previous articles.

If you have been hurt in a Louisiana truck accident, contact immediately the attorneys of the Young Firm in New Orleans 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.