With the high demand for speed and efficiency within the shipping business these days, there is a very real and present danger that comes from truckers on the roads of Texas. Some truckers are feeling the pressure to speed in order to get their loads in on time and possibly early. This desire to drive faster is motivated by shipping companies paying on a load-by-load basis that only pays out when the load is either delivered or dropped off. There often is no stipulation for compensation for sleep or even breaks. This increased pressure can lead to a deadly Houston semi truck accident.
The speed in which truckers choose to drive frequently comes down to a matter of dollars and cents, because if the truck drivers are able to travel more miles in a shorter time period, then they have made more money on that haul. This means that they can fit more paying loads in to the same amount of time and make a considerably greater amount of money.
Making more money is generally a good thing, but when it comes at the cost of safety we truly have to examine the root of our understanding and how truck drivers operate on the highways of Texas. Most independent owner operators spend a total of 44 hours a week unpaid in their cab, and this down time is the very incentive to make more loads in less time.
There are multiple ways for truck drivers to be able to make their trucks safer on the road for themselves and others. The should always be checking the mirrors, keeping the truck in proper working order, and making sure the load is secure. However, if the driver is tired and overworked then safety can fall by the wayside. If you add speed into the mix, there is a disaster waiting to happen.
If you have been injured in a Houston truck crash as a result of speed or some other form of negligence, contact Houston truck accident attorney Steve Lee at 713-921-4171 or 1-800-232-3711. He will provide you with answers to your questions and advice regarding your Houston tractor-trailer accident case.