Improper Maintenance of Trucks and Equipment 

Everything associated with tractor-trailer trucks and semi-trucks is very costly. From the initial price of new trucks and liability insurance to fuel and required maintenance. That is why we are seeing fewer private owners and more large national trucking companies. The smaller truck firms are being priced out of the market. Maintenance actually costs owners in two ways – repair and lost time on the road. Given the initial investment and slim operating margins, the only way to turn a profit is to keep those big wheels turning. Idling or slow traffic costs drivers and companies every minute. And, when taken out of service completely for scheduled maintenance is time lost forever. There is also a big backlog for service as more trucks delay service until the last minute. Below we will discuss the major services that are critical to the safe operation of a semi-truck and how failure to service is a dangerous choice more companies are making.

Braking Systems

As you might expect, brakes on commercial trucks and their trailers are necessarily large and expensive. It takes great braking systems to stop large freight loads traveling a highway speeds. As you might expect, there are several systems and redundancy built into this critical part of a tractor-trailer. Parts are costly and service time can take a rig out of service for a significant amount of time. If other issues are discovered, the down time will only increase. Just like with cars taken in for service, technicians usually find other problems with large trucks, especially as service intervals are being increased and delays in maintenance are becoming more common. Regular maintenance is just not practical given demands for service and scheduling issues. Nevertheless, brakes remain the most important safety aspect for other drivers on the road. For trucking companies and operators, engine service life remains the focus.

Tires

Other than brakes, tires are the most important part of a truck from the perspective of the traveling public. Brakes and good tires make a rig stable and safe, especially in emergency situations. Proper tire maintenance, air pressure, and replacement are absolutely essential. The old term “18 wheeler” may be going away as there is a current trend to move away from multiple tires and heavy steel rims on each axle to “super singles” as trucking companies review costs. Personally, I appreciate the safety aspect of redundancy in four (4) tires on each axle of a truck and trailer. If one tire fails (and we see evidence of such failure on the road), there are others present to help support the load and maintain the stability of the trailer. Same with the truck itself. If one side abruptly fails, as these situations usually occur, the trailer and its heavy load is still reasonably secure. With the downsizing of the number of tires and switch to lighter aluminum rims, trucks get slightly better fuel savings but at what cost to safety. Only time will fully answer this question. My fear is that there will be significant life changing injury and loss of life as part of the analysis.

Engine Service 

For owners and operators, engine service and life is critical to financial viability. Large diesel engines will literally run for hundreds of thousands of miles if properly serviced and maintained. Again, like every other aspect of a semi-truck, even routine oil changes are costly and time consuming. Of course, big trucks rarely come out of service just for an oil change. Instead, complete inspection and service review accompany any time off the road and in a garage. New diesel truck mechanics take up to two (2) years to train but can come out of school making $100k a year, or more. There is great demand for these skills and too few service centers. As a result, service mechanics and their centers can charge a premium for their maintenance. This fact starts a vicious circle in that small trucking companies and private owners have to delay service until they cannot wait any longer. This strategy may allow them to stay in business but can compromise vital systems on their trucks and place the driving public at greater risk of harm. In addition to braking systems, semi-trucks use gears and other engine technology to properly and securely maintain control and stop fully loaded tractor-trailers. If these systems are not properly maintained, loads may become unstable and cause loss of control during critical times. With loss of control comes enormous consequences.

Trailers

Unlike simple trailers that you may find behind a car or small truck, semi-truck trailers are technologically advanced and dependent on system engineering. In addition to independent braking and suspension systems, modern day trailers have tracking systems and even safety devices designed to help manage and even correct certain dangerous conditions. With tire blowouts which still occur despite improvements in design and manufacturing, leveling systems can help stabilize loads and help maintain control until a safe stop can be made. However, like with trucks, these more complicated systems require more frequent and expensive periodic maintenance to keep effective. Trucking has certainly come a long way from the old days of a truck and a trailer. However, the improvements come with a price that can only be justified with more time and hours on the road moving freight.

Semi-Truck Accident Lawyers

Our lawyers know that commercial truck accident cases are more complex and require more diligence than ordinary automobile claims. Much must investigated about the truck, the driver, and the trucking company before an adequate assessment can be made. You and your family need experienced counsel to help you navigate through the legal process and litigation maze. This is what our lawyers do. We invite you to compare our credentials and experience against any other law firm before deciding who is best to represent your interests. We then ask that you schedule a time to meet with us and discuss what we can do to help. Only then will you be in the best position to decide which firm you want to have on your side. You can reach semi-truck accident attorney Robert J. Reeves directly at 803-554-4157 in South Carolina or 704-351-7979 in North Carolina. We sincerely hope you never need our services, but we are here if you do.