Officials Call for Changes to New York Truck Driving Rules and Regulations

January 27, 2014

Improperly maintained commercial tractor-trailers present significant hazards and state lawmakers say officials with the New York Department of Transportation (NYDOT) are not doing enough to prevent these dangers. This has prompted several groups to call for changes to be made to existing Truck Driving Rules and Regulations.

Thomas P. DiNapoli, the state comptroller, released a statement accusing the NYDOT of failing to follow up on inspection reports and repair certifications for truck drivers and trucking companies who fail inspections due to faulty equipment. According to Heavy Duty Trucking, state and federal law requires this documentation to be submitted within 15 days of an inspection failure. However, reports indicate roughly 40 percent of violators cited between Oct. 2008 and June 2013 failed to meet this deadline.

The state recently passed a bill classifying a difference between company tractor-trailers and owner-operators, but many wonder what else can be done to improve safety in the trucking industry. Experts have offered several suggestions, such as:

• Implementing a tracking system to monitor trucking law violations
• Developing strategic actions to take against repeat offenders
• Stiffening penalties for violations of trucking laws and regulations

The Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices hope state officials take the right steps to better protect the public from negligent trucking companies and drivers.