Myrtle Beach Lawyers for Truck Accidents – Inadequate Training

If you were injured in an accident with a large truck near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, inadequate driver training could be to blame. When you’re facing extensive medical treatment, mounting medical bills, and maybe even an inability to work, you might be wondering where to turn for help.

The truck accident attorneys at the Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers get it. We know how to pursue these complicated cases to obtain the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses and other accident-related losses. We understand the laws and regulations governing the trucking industry, the training schools that provide only the minimum amount of instruction necessary to pass the required tests, and the truck companies that eagerly send poorly trained novice drivers out on the road in pursuit of their own profits, not your safety.

Driving an 80,000-pound semi-truck for hours and hours on busy interstate highways is not easy. No matter how many years you’ve had your driver’s license, a passenger car provides little preparation for driving an 18-wheeler. That is why federal and state laws require truck drivers to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) before they get behind the wheel of a big rig. Unfortunately, the training required to obtain a CDL is often woefully inadequate for preparing entry-level drivers for the responsibility of operating these massive and sometimes dangerous vehicles.

When you hire the Myrtle Beach truck accident lawyers of the Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers, your attorney will fight aggressively to hold the trucking company responsible for their negligence. Contact our office today at (843) 839-4795 for a confidential consultation and to answer questions about your truck accident.

Truck Driver Training in South Carolina

Only recently (as of February 7, 2022) have federal regulations required individuals applying for their first CDL, a CDL upgrade, or certain CDL endorsements to receive entry-level driver training (ELDT). These new regulations set minimum federal training requirements for entry-level drivers to complete before they can take CDL tests. The training must include theory instruction and behind-the-wheel instruction, but it does not establish a required minimum number of instruction hours for either. Federal regulations outline the standard curriculum that the training instructor must cover.

Entry-level drivers must take EDLT from a provider registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. South Carolina has many providers listed in the online registry. Some of these driver schools emphasize the brevity of training in their advertisements. “Five weeks and done!” boasts one school’s website.

Once an individual has completed EDLT, they can apply for a CDL from the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. In order to receive their first CDL, an applicant needs to:

• Be at least 18 years old to drive a truck within South Carolina.
• Be at least 21 years old to drive a truck outside of South Carolina.
• Already have a South Carolina driver’s license.
• Provide proof of South Carolina residency, US citizenship (or legal permanent residency), and a Social Security number.
• Pass required knowledge tests in whichever class vehicle they intend to drive (A, B, or C).
• Hold a Commercial Learner’s Permit for at least 14 days before testing.
• Pass a skills or road test, which includes a vehicle inspection test, basic vehicle control skills test, and on-road driving test.
• Provide a medical examiner’s certificate.
• Pass a vision test.
• Pass a driving record test to ensure the applicant is not disqualified from holding a CDL.

What Is Not Required to Drive a Large Truck

While the federally mandated EDLT provides a modicum of behind-the-wheel training, and drivers are required to pass a road test to obtain a CDL, there is no requirement to complete a minimum number of behind-the-wheel training hours before obtaining a CDL. Whereas many other licenses come with required minimum hours of training, such as licenses to become barbers or cosmetologists, CCLs do not.

While there are exceptions, many trucking companies put novice drivers on the road without substantive training on how to properly drive and handle these massive vehicles. According to survey data collected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 38 percent of long-haul truck drivers reported receiving inadequate training at the beginning of their careers. Reach out to us today.

Common Crashes Caused by Inadequate Driver Training

Inexperienced truck drivers are more likely to make common errors while driving. Even minor errors can result in catastrophic accidents when made by someone who sits behind the wheel of an 80,000-pound semi-truck. These include:

• Following a car too closely
• Failing to accurately judge the required braking distance
• Taking a turn too fast
• Not checking blind spots
• Not adjusting to weather conditions
• Missing problems during inspections
• Misjudging turning radius
• Improper loading of the trailer

Who Is Liable When Inadequately Trained Drivers Cause Accidents?

Trucking companies are legally responsible for their employees’ actions when they are on the job. Once a company hires a driver, they are responsible for making sure the driver is qualified and well-trained. If they knowingly allow a poorly trained and inexperienced driver on the road, the company could be liable for an accident resulting from the driver’s inexperience and poor training.

If trucking companies can be held liable for accidents by novice drivers, why would they put them on the road? It should be obvious that entry-level drivers who have just received their CDL need more training, especially behind-the-wheel training. Just like learning any new skill, there is no replacement for hours of practice.

Unfortunately, many trucking companies do not take reasonable measures to properly train their entry-level drivers. In pursuit of profits, they rush novice drivers through minimal training to get them on the road as soon as possible. A driver in training is not making their company any money. Rather, training sometimes costs the company money and may pull valuable veterans off the road to train the novices.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Inadequate Training?

If you were injured in a truck accident near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and you suspect the truck driver was inadequately trained or inexperienced, the truck accident attorneys at the Law Office of William J. Luse, Inc. Accident & Injury Lawyers are ready to investigate your case and work to hold the company responsible for their negligence. Contact our experienced attorneys today at (843) 839-4795 for a confidential consultation about your case.