Truck Driver Fatigue Laws (California Law)

Truck driver fatigue is one of the most persistent and dangerous issues on California roadways. In Northern California, where commercial trucks travel along vital corridors like I-5, I-80, and US-101, fatigued drivers pose a significant threat to public safety. Long hours behind the wheel, pressure from delivery deadlines, and inadequate rest can lead to slower reaction times, impaired judgment, and falling asleep at the wheel.

These conditions often result in devastating crashes that cause severe injuries and fatalities. California law, along with federal regulations, has established rules to prevent truck driver fatigue and to hold drivers and trucking companies accountable when they violate these rules. Our Sacramento truck accident lawyers at Curtis Law Group can help you understand these truck driver fatigue laws, which are essential for protecting victims and promoting safer roads across the state.

Why Truck Driver Fatigue Is So Dangerous

Fatigue impairs a truck driver’s judgment, reaction time, and overall driving performance, similarly to driving under the influence of alcohol. According to the National Sleep Foundation, fatigue is a factor in nearly 100,000 large truck crashes yearly nationwide.

In Northern California, truckers often spend long hours navigating mountainous terrain, congested highways, or rural stretches with limited rest areas. Without adequate rest, they may fall asleep at the wheel or fail to react quickly to sudden changes in traffic. A single moment of drowsiness behind the wheel of a fully loaded big rig can cause devastating injuries or fatalities.

Overview of Federal and State Fatigue Regulations

The Federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules, established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), primarily regulate the hours of truck drivers. These rules apply to interstate commercial drivers, including those operating across California. However, the state has also implemented its own labor and safety rules that can apply, particularly to intrastate trucking operations, which are trips that begin and end within the state.

Key Federal HOS Regulations for Property-Carrying Drivers

These rules include:

• 11-hour driving limit: A driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.
• 14-hour limit: The 11 driving hours must occur within a 14-hour window following 10 hours off duty.
• 30-minute break rule: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after eight cumulative hours of driving.
• 60/70-hour weekly limit: Drivers may not drive after 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on the carrier’s operation schedule.
• Sleeper berth provision: Drivers using a sleeper berth must spend at least 7 hours in the berth and an additional 2 hours either in the berth or off duty.

California’s Intrastate HOS Rules

For truck drivers whose work is confined to California, the state’s HOS rules offer some variations from the federal regulations. These differences accommodate the unique demands of intrastate trucking within the Golden State. The key distinctions include:

• 12-hour driving limit: California allows intrastate drivers to drive up to 12 hours in a workday.
• 16-hour on-duty limit: The total on-duty time for a California intrastate driver is capped at 16 hours in a 24-hour period.
• 80-hour/8-day limit: Instead of the 60/70-hour rule, California intrastate drivers have an 80-hour on-duty limit within any 8-consecutive-day period.

Even with these state-specific rules, the fundamental goal remains the same: to prevent fatigued driving. Additionally, California law requires employers to provide their truck-driving employees with paid 10-minute rest breaks for every four hours worked, or major fraction thereof, and a 30-minute meal break for shifts longer than five hours.

Signs of Truck Driver Fatigue

Fatigue can be hard to detect after a crash, but there are telltale signs. In many fatigue-related truck accident investigations, the following behaviors or conditions are often uncovered:

• Driving significantly over the speed limit or drifting across lanes
• Failure to brake or slow down before an impact
• Logbook violations or missing entries
• GPS or electronic logging device (ELD) data showing excess hours
• Eyewitness statements about erratic driving
• Unusually long stretches of uninterrupted driving without rest

In cases involving severe injuries or wrongful death, legal teams often subpoena driving logs, schedule records, and ELD data to uncover signs of fatigue or HOS violations.

The Trucking Company May Face Liability for Fatigued Drivers

It is not just the truck driver who can be held accountable for accidents caused by fatigued driving. Trucking companies can also be liable if they:

• Encourage or coerce drivers to exceed hours-of-service limits
• Fail to monitor logbooks or ELDs for violations
• Neglect to enforce mandatory rest breaks
• Use compensation models that reward faster deliveries over safety
• Hire drivers with known histories of HOS violations or fatigue-related crashes

California employers are held to high standards under CACI No. 3700’s respondeat superior laws, which can make them vicariously liable for the negligent acts of employees while on duty. If a company’s practices knowingly put fatigued drivers on the road, they may also face direct liability for negligent supervision or training.

Legal Claims Arising from Fatigue-Related Truck Accidents

Victims of fatigue-related truck crashes can pursue compensation on the grounds of negligence in several ways, including:

• Negligence: Establishing that the truck driver breached their duty of care by driving while fatigued
• Negligent hiring or supervision: Holding the trucking company responsible for unsafe policies or practices
• Violation of safety regulations: Showing that the driver violated federal or state HOS guidelines
• Wrongful death: For families of victims killed in a crash caused by driver fatigue

Damages may include compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of consortium, and other related expenses. In extreme cases, the court may award exemplary damages if the conduct was especially reckless, such as falsifying logs or pressuring drivers to skip their rest periods.

How Our Northern California Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help

Establishing fatigue in a truck accident case is rarely simple. Trucking companies often have teams of lawyers and insurers working to downplay driver fatigue or shift blame onto others. Our skilled Sacramento truck accident attorneys can:

• Investigate ELD and GPS data to uncover hours-of-service violations
• Obtain cell phone records and dashcam footage
• Depose trucking company employees about internal policies and practices
• Work with accident reconstruction experts and sleep scientists
• Build a compelling narrative of how fatigue led to the crash
• Negotiate assertively with insurers or take the case to trial if needed

Given the complexities of California and federal trucking laws, having an experienced legal advocate can be the difference between a denied claim and significant compensation.

What to Do If You Suspect Truck Driver Fatigue Caused a Crash

If a truck accident injured you or a loved one, and you suspect fatigue may have been a factor, here are some immediate steps to take:

• Seek medical attention immediately, even if your injuries seem minor.
• Contact law enforcement and ensure they create a police report.
• Take photos and gather witness information at the scene.
• Avoid giving a recorded statement to the trucking company’s insurance adjuster.
• Consult our truck accident lawyers as soon as possible to begin investigating the accident’s cause.

Time is critical. The trucking company may start building its defense within hours. They can alter or lose evidence, like logbooks and ELD data, without swift legal action. Furthermore, California’s statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim is typically two years from the date of the accident, though some exceptions apply. If you miss this deadline, you may lose the chance to recover damages altogether

Contact Our Team at Curtis Legal Group Today

Truck driver fatigue is a serious and preventable danger on California roads. Fatigued driving can lead to life-altering injuries or death, whether caused by long shifts, company pressure, or inadequate rest breaks. While federal and state laws attempt to regulate driver hours, enforcement gaps and commercial pressures still allow fatigued drivers to slip through.

If you suspect driver fatigue played a role in your crash, contact our Sacramento truck accident attorneys today for a free consultation. We serve injury victims throughout Northern California and will protect your rights with compassion, experience, and strength.