Truck Driver Labor and Personal Injury Attorneys in Marysville, WA
Although Marysville is relatively small, it’s one of the fastest growing suburbs in Washington. It’s currently home to about 70,000 residents, and is near vast farming areas. Hillsides are being cleared of trees so that people can build homes on them. For this reason, the town is known for logging.
Log truck drivers transport timber from forests to storage yards. They may also assist with acquiring documentation for legal transport of logs, mapping out the route and transport logistics, inspecting the vehicle before and after every trip, and assisting with the loading and unloading of logs. Additionally, drivers record relevant cargo information, and travel time and distance.
Given all these responsibilities, truck drivers are no strangers to legal concerns regarding wages, compensation, and even work-related injuries. Whichever issue you’re dealing with, you need to find a lawyer who can represent you well.
Truck Driver Rights are experienced and reliable in representing log truck drivers and fighting for their rights. Our attorneys are well-versed in wage and hour class action, insurance law, and other types of legal services for work-related injuries. You can trust us to assist with wage and compensation issues for truck drivers in Maryville, WA and surrounding areas.
Background of Log Truck Drivers in Marysville
Marysville has a long history with timber. What is now a prosperous Snohomish County city was merely a trading post in the 1870s. Founders James and Maria Comeford lived in the nearby Tulalip reservation, where they managed operations in 18 logging camps. Years later, Mr. Comeford bought 1,280 acres of land, which would later on become the town of Marysville from a group of traders in timber.
The Comefords worked with loggers and families in the area to establish a working economy. By 1891, when James Comeford incorporated the town, logging was already a primary industry. Logging remains a major contributor to the local economy. So there’s special attention on log truck drivers.
Log truck drivers are a combination of two of the most dangerous occupations in America today, which are timber cutting and truck driving. A majority of truck drivers reach their destinations without incident, but stringent requirements are still in place to help reduce potential crashes and keep drivers safe.
These requirements include:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Class A commercial driver’s license
- Transportation Worker Identification Credential card
- Cleared medical certificate
- Negative drug test results
- Clean driving record
In addition to these requirements, truck drivers must display excellent time management skills and GPS navigation to ensure timely delivery of newly harvested logs. Visual cues and depth perception are also necessary in adjusting speed and distance while traveling along highways.
The responsibilities aren’t solely on log truck drivers, though. Employers have to secure fair treatment and compensation, and follow health and safety regulations. Our truck driver attorneys in Marysville help log truck drivers file claims and complaints against employers that violate any of these.
Our client-centered and results-driven legal team helps you navigate truck driver labor and employment law. We handle all personal injury, wage and hour class action, and compensation and benefits cases.
Wage and Hour Class Action by Truck Drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes rules that promote the safety of truck drivers and other motorists on the road. The agency regulates the number of hours a truck driver may drive daily and the total hours they can drive weekly, to ensure that they remain well-rested and focused on the road.
General Hours of Service
Truck drivers who deliver logs and other materials within Washington are subject to state regulations, but not necessarily federal regulations. Transporting materials interstate, however, demands compliance with the following federal hours of service regulations:
- Every duty period starts after a minimum of 10 hours off-duty
- Drivers may be on-duty for up to 14 hours or 11 driving hours after 10 hours off-duty
- Drivers have a mandatory 30-minute break by their eighth hour working on-duty
- Drivers cannot be on-duty for more than 60 hours over 7 days, or 70 hours over 8 days
Adverse Driving Conditions Exception
Drivers may have an additional two hours on the road in case of adverse weather, such as snow or fog, or if there are delays caused by unforeseen road incidents and construction slow downs. However, these additional two hours must still fall within their 14 hours on-duty.
Bad weather isn’t a reason for drivers to extend their time on the road, though. In the event that drivers cannot return to their home terminal within 14 hours, they are required to have a layover. The same rule applies when drivers can’t make it back even under the 16-hour exception.
16-Hour Exception
Truck drivers with a one-day work schedule can remain on-duty for up to 16 hours given that their travel starts and ends at the same terminal. Nevertheless, the total drive time cannot exceed 11 hours. Drivers also can’t drive past their 16th hour on duty.
This exception cannot be used in conjunction with the Adverse Driving Conditions exemption.
Carriers who knowingly and willfully violate these hours of service regulations are subject to federal criminal penalties. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration may impose civil penalties, whereas state and local law enforcers may set fines.
Our Marysville attorneys help you file legal action against an employer who knowingly and willfully allows or requires you to violate the mentioned regulations. We also assist you with claims and lawsuits against employers who fail to comply with federal and state wage laws.
Unique Pay Structures
Despite laws that regulate drivers compensation, the pay structure decision ultimately rests on employers. Some employers have a pay-per-hour or a pay-per-mile system whereas others employer drivers per-load. These systems don’t always reflect the compensation that truck drivers deserve, though.
These pay systems may not consider the traffic jams, fatigue, and work-related injuries that drivers endure to meet their job requirements. The pay-per-mile structure, for example, might cause drivers to disregard Hours of Service regulations to maximize their driving hours.
Changes in the Payment Structure
The pay-per-hour and pay-per-mile pay systems may work against truck drivers. Fortunately, current laws have changed to accommodate the hours that drivers spend on the road as well as for the hours they use up for non-driving work, like pre-trip inspections and fleet huddles.
Current state laws also modified the payment structure for truck drivers under a piece-rate basis. These drivers should receive a separate pay for rest breaks and non-driving work time.
Let our Marysville truck driver attorneys provide legal representation and guidance for your wage and hour disputes. Given our experience and commitment to the legal rights of truck drivers, we make sure your employer is fairly compensating you for the hard work you do.
Work-Related Truck Driving Injuries
Federal and state laws serve as a reminder for truckers and shipment companies to never compromise the health and safety of their drivers, especially with the intention of cutting costs. Current safety regulations state the number of hours and the speed rate truck drivers are allowed to drive.
Employers might be required to pay hefty fines if proven that they overlooked these measures.
There is a preconceived notion that truck drivers are solely responsible for accidents and injuries on the road. Employers might be equally liable for these incidents. Unfortunately, these cases go unnoticed or overlooked when drivers aren’t aware of their rights or the violations their employers make.
For example, some truck drivers aren’t aware that they can refuse to transport materials due to adverse weather. Some truck drivers also overlook safety regulations because their employers fail to properly train them. Finally, over-fatigue may put drivers, other motorists, or pedestrians at safety risk.
Our Marysville law office advocates the safety, well-being, and legal rights of truck drivers. As such, our personal injury lawyers assist you in filing work-related personal injury claims. We represent you against negligent employers and defend your best interests in court.
Legal Services for Marysville Truck Drivers
In Marysville where logging remains a solid contributor to the local economy, it’s important to know your legal rights as a truck driver. You’re responsible for making sure all goods arrive at the delivery station on schedule and in good condition. In turn, your employer is responsible for compensating you properly and minimizing your risk of work-related accidents and injuries.
If your rights as a truck driver have been violated, ask Truck Driver Rights for help. We work on a “no-win, no-fee” basis so that you won’t have to pay our services when your claim is unsuccessful. However, our Marysville lawyers fight tooth and nail to defend your case in court and get the best possible outcome.
As advocates of the truck driving and freight shipment community, we don’t hit the brakes until we know that you’re properly compensated for employer negligence in terms of safety and wage regulations.
We’re veteran truck accident, personal injury, and employment attorneys. We have a deep understanding of the realities you face on the road, and we’re committed to helping you fight for your rights.