Trucks carry vital goods across the state of Louisiana and beyond. Most drivers are in tune with their driving limits as well as the laws around secure loads. Unfortunately, this is not the case for all commercial truckers.
Some truckers attempt to cut corners or push the limits by overloading their vehicles. How can you tell if this is the case? And why is this so dangerous?
Strained suspension
A truck loaded at the optimal weight should still have some flex in the suspension. In other words, it should bounce a little on the roads. This means that the suspension springs are doing their job by absorbing any shocks and bumps. An overloaded truck won’t do this. Instead, the suspension will be fully compressed with no give and take.
Why are overloaded trucks so dangerous?
An overloaded truck is dangerous for several reasons. Firstly, trucks generally have longer stopping distances as it is. If there is too much weight on board, stopping distances will be increased further and can reach dangerous levels. A driver might not be able to slow down at all.
Secondly, the balance of the truck will be skewed. The trailer may be too heavy for the cab in front, and when they shift in different directions, a jackknifing incident may occur. The uneven balance of a commercial vehicle also makes it more susceptible to rollover accidents, which can have deadly consequences both for the driver and surrounding vehicles.
Trucking companies and drivers must adhere to the law at all times. There are regulations in place to ensure that trailers are not overloaded. If you’ve been injured at the hands of a negligent truck driver, make sure you look into your legal options.