Law: Legal Issues Facing the Trucking Companies
Law is broad, but the good thing is that it covers every aspect of life. As people continue to live, they get revised legal clauses that enhance operations that surround them. Trucking companies have numerous legal issues that surround them, and they keep adding to the list. The truck drivers, owners and the fleet companies that manage them need to understand more about these legal issues so that they operate smoothly. Here is a list of the common ones they must comply with.
ELD Compliance
Recently, the law has introduced a new concept in the trucking industry; the electronic logging device compliance. This is for the purpose of handling legal cases where lawyers can investigate the behavior of a driver and their driving habits. The law requires that for attorneys to investigate the driving habits of a truck driver, the device must be connected to the engine and that drivers should logging and out every time. Instead of going through log books and journals that are manually entered, the digital files will be more reliable in accuracy.
Cross-Border Issues
Different countries and states have their guidelines on anything. When trucks are crossing from one state to another, which is most likely, they have to face various legal compliances from what they are used to. Trucking companies which ferry good from one country to another will have to comply with all applicable laws. Some of these include special vehicle registrations, international licenses for the truck drivers and change of driving lanes where applicable.
Insurance Compliance
Insurance covers do not cater for every aspect that faces the truck drivers. In most cases, the vehicles, cargo or the drivers may be left exposed. For example, cargo loss through theft may not be covered by various jurisdictions.
Most people have complained about such issues, especially those who do not understand insurance policies of foreign countries they wish to operate in. If you can get a local insurance agent with international knowledge, then they can help you understand what needs to be done.
Employee Work Permits and Licenses
All truck drivers need to have a license to drive trucks. The challenge comes in when some of them have not met all the qualifications that are required. Further complications come in when the drivers have to drive the trucks into another state that have different qualification parameters.
Some states have strict measures revolving around work permits and may hinder smooth operation for the trucking companies with unqualified yet competent drivers. According to research, some trucking companies have to exchange drivers as the trucks are crossing borders just to be on the safe side of the law.
Food Safety Regulations
Quite a large number of trucks are involved in food hauling business. Whether it is that truck delivering dairy products from the factory to departmental stores or one carrying imported dry food from the port, they all have to meet various food safety regulations.
This can vary from state to state, and those that wish to cross borders must always comply. As much as it might be challenging, the law must be followed and breaking it can lead to a punishment.…