To properly haul goods and services across the country, 18-wheeler trucks are often necessary. While these trips benefit the economy, businesses, and consumers, everything can change in a split second when an accident happens.

While there is always the chance for a large truck to get into an accident, work zones create special challenges for drivers in tractor-trailers and 18-wheelers. The challenges often have to do with space restriction. When road work is in progress on multi-lane highways, the crew may have to reduce the number of lanes for drivers. Vehicle occupants in smaller cars are at serious risk of injury or death in the event of an accident with an 18-wheeler.

Recently there has been much talk and “traffic” about hours of service regulations for 18 Wheelers.

Hours of service (HOS) regulations define how much a driver can drive during certain periods of time and apply to commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).

An important first question is what qualifies as a CMV for purposes of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations Hour of Service Rules. 18 Wheelers typically do of course, but other vehicles qualify also.