TRUCKING INDUSTRY EXPECTS TRUCKLOAD GROWTH TO INCREASE, BUMPING UP ACCIDENT RISKS

The trucking industry expects the number of truckloads of cargo on the roads to increase 3 to 5 percent in 2013, according to a recent article in Trailer Body Builders. This increase in cargo loads is good news for the trucking industry, but it also means the number of fully-loaded tractor-trailers on the roads will increase, which in turn raises the risk for serious accidents. If you’ve suffered a truck crash, an experienced San Jose truck accident lawyer can help.

According to consulting firm FTR Associates, truckload growth will increase in 2013 but slow down again in 2014, because the relationship between production and gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to decrease in 2014. However, the consultants were quick to point out that many variables affect the forecasting of truckload growth, especially more than one year into the future.

The recent increases in truckloads on the road have been largely attributed to recent economic gains. Another possible source of increases in coming years are new safety regulations imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which will temporarily decrease the supply of drivers and thus increase the demand for them. Increased demand due to Hurricane Sandy cleanup and rebuilding as well as oil and gas production via fracking are also expected to increase the overall number of trucks on the road.

Truck crashes can cause serious injuries. A fully-loaded tractor-trailer may weigh as much as 80,000 pounds, but the average passenger vehicle weighs only 3,000 pounds. When these two vehicles collide, those in the smaller vehicle are at a particularly high risk.