Truck drivers have restrictions on how long they can work, and this can sometimes make them rush to try to get a job done on time.
Additionally, they are often paid by the mile. This can also influence them to rush while driving if they were previously stuck in traffic or doing something else that reduced the amount of miles they could cover.
This means that truck drivers are sometimes in a hurry. While they may not be unsafe drivers, these external stressors are going to push them to do things that they may know aren’t safe. But the industry has an emphasis on productivity, and drivers have a financial incentive to drive as quickly as they can.
Why is this a problem?
This is a problem on many levels, but the main issue is simply that it can lead to crashes. A truck driver who is rushing may not leave enough space to stop in time or may make driving mistakes that they wouldn’t have if they simply slowed down and were a bit more careful. But it’s easy for someone to think that they can push the limits a little bit when they know they’re going to earn more money by doing so.
Remember, when a truck accident does happen, it’s most common for the people in the other vehicle to suffer serious injuries. In an underride accident, for instance, the truck driver will likely not be injured at all. If you have suffered injuries due to mistakes made by one of these drivers, then you want to look into your rights to financial compensation.