Truck Accident Lawyer Trucking Regulations & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'CSA score' and how can it support a negligence claim against a trucking company?
- A Compliance, Safety, Accountability score rating a carrier's safety performance; a poor score suggests systemic safety violations (Correct answer)
- A credit score used by insurers to set trucking company premiums
- A certification level for specialized cargo carriers
- A state-issued compliance rating for in-state trucking operations
Correct answer: A Compliance, Safety, Accountability score rating a carrier's safety performance; a poor score suggests systemic safety violations
High CSA scores in categories like Hours of Service or Vehicle Maintenance indicate a pattern of violations that can show the company knowingly operated unsafely.
Question 2: Under FMCSA regulations, how often must a commercial motor vehicle undergo a periodic inspection?
- At least once every 12 months (Correct answer)
- At least once every 6 months
- At least once every 24 months
- At least once every 3 months
Correct answer: At least once every 12 months
49 CFR Part 396 requires that every commercial motor vehicle be inspected at least annually, with records kept for 14 months.
Question 3: What is a 'hazardous materials placard' and when is it required on a commercial truck?
- A standardized diamond-shaped sign indicating the type and hazard class of dangerous materials being transported, required when carrying specified quantities (Correct answer)
- A warning label inside the cab alerting the driver to dangerous cargo
- A sticker applied by the FMCSA after a vehicle inspection
- An insurance certificate indicating coverage for cargo damage
Correct answer: A standardized diamond-shaped sign indicating the type and hazard class of dangerous materials being transported, required when carrying specified quantities
Hazmat placards are required under 49 CFR Part 172 when transporting materials in quantities that meet or exceed federal thresholds for each hazard class.
Question 4: What does 'negligent entrustment' mean when applied to a trucking company?
- Allowing an unqualified, incompetent, or unlicensed driver to operate a commercial vehicle (Correct answer)
- Failing to secure cargo properly before a trip
- Overloading a truck beyond its rated capacity
- Assigning a driver to a route in hazardous weather conditions
Correct answer: Allowing an unqualified, incompetent, or unlicensed driver to operate a commercial vehicle
Negligent entrustment holds a trucking company liable for knowingly or carelessly allowing an unfit driver to operate one of its vehicles.
Question 5: Which FMCSA rule limits a truck driver to 60 hours of on-duty time in 7 consecutive days?
- The 60/7 hours of service rule (Correct answer)
- The 70/8 hours of service rule
- The 34-hour restart rule
- The 11-hour driving limit
Correct answer: The 60/7 hours of service rule
The 60-hour/7-day limit prevents drivers on irregular schedules from accumulating excessive on-duty time within a week.
Question 6: What is the 'MCS-90 endorsement' required of interstate trucking companies?
- A mandatory federal insurance endorsement ensuring minimum liability coverage for public liability damages caused by the carrier (Correct answer)
- A state-level cargo insurance certificate
- A drug testing compliance certification filed with the FMCSA
- A vehicle identification endorsement added to commercial license plates
Correct answer: A mandatory federal insurance endorsement ensuring minimum liability coverage for public liability damages caused by the carrier
The MCS-90 endorsement attached to a carrier's insurance policy guarantees that injured members of the public can recover damages even if the driver was operating outside policy conditions.
Truck Accident Lawyer Trucking Regulations & Compliance 2
What is a 'CSA score' and how can it support a negligence claim against a trucking company?