Ever Question The Competence Of A Baltimore, MD, Semi-Truck Driver?

“Is that semi-truck going to stay in its own lane?” “Is that truck going to let me merge?” “Can that truck driver really make that sharp turn?” If you drive on Maryland highways, these questions and more have probably crossed your mind more than once. Semi-trucks can be intimidating, and if you’ve been injured in a truck crash in Baltimore, you need a lawyer on your side. Your lawyer will find out if the truck driver caused the Maryland wreck, sort out the facts, and will fight for the compensation you deserve.

Truck Drivers Must Have “Class”

Your lawyer knows not just anyone can drive an 18-wheeler.  People who drive cars must successfully pass both knowledge and skills tests to earn an Operator’s License. Truck drivers, on the other hand, have different standards. Anyone who drives vehicles that fall under the following description must apply for and successfully earn a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and an endorsement to drive a specific “class” of commercial vehicle. There are three Classes. They are primarily based on vehicle weight:

• Class A License: A combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds if the vehicle being towed is less than 10,000 pounds
• Class B License: Any single vehicle with a GCWR of 26, 001 or more pounds or if towing a vehicle less than 10,000 pounds

• Class C License: Any single vehicle designed to carry 16 passengers or more (including the driver) and weighing less than 26,001 pounds, or this size vehicle towing another vehicle of fewer than 10,000 pounds.

• Class C also includes authorization to drive a vehicle that transports hazardous materials. All HAZMAT vehicles must be externally marked in order to comply with the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act.

The following are examples of general CDL and endorsement level tests that truck drivers must take:

• General knowledge (required by all before testing for an endorsement)
• Air Brake Knowledge
• Combination Vehicles Knowledge
• Tanker Knowledge
• Double/Triple Knowledge
• Passenger Knowledge
• School Bus Knowledge
• Hazardous Materials Knowledge (requires fingerprint/background record check)

Truck Drivers Must Be Healthy

Being physically able to drive a truck is yet another level of testing that all truck drivers must undergo. CDL medical documentation must be on file and up to date with the Maryland Department of Transportation after the driver is examined by a medical professional. The general medical exam checks drivers to rule out:

• Poor Vision
• Hearing Loss
• Swallowing and Breathing disorders
• Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Hernias
• Sensory disorders
• Spine and muscle limitations
• Strength and mobility disorders
• Diabetes – if insulin is required to control blood sugar, the individual is disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle.

Being qualified to drive an 18 Wheeler in Maryland requires a great deal of testing and attention to good health. When you consider how demanding the work of a truck driver can be, there’s no question that staying sharp and healthy is a huge challenge. A driver’s health alone can seriously compromise highway safety. So if a Baltimore, MD, truck crash has left you or a loved one injured, you need to call Bob Katz Law and his team of lawyers. His lawyers want to hear about your truck wreck. They know that wrongful injury and death need to be explained, and the victims need just and fair treatment and maximum compensation for the trauma and pain they’ve suffered.

Call Bob Katz Law for a free, confidential consultation. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to serve you. We serve accident victims of all ages, occupations, and ethnicities. We practice in and accept clients from Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. No legal fees are assessed unless compensation is recovered. Call Bob Katz Law today at 410-576-4287.

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