How Inexperienced or Improperly Trained Drivers Put Everyone on the Road at Risk
By Attorney Drew C. Timmons
Trial Lawyer, Fried Goldberg, LLC
Every truck driver on the highway carries enormous responsibility. But when a driver isn’t properly trained, that responsibility can become a danger to the driver, their employer, and every motorist sharing the road.
At Fried Goldberg LLC, we’ve seen how inadequate training inside a trucking company can lead to catastrophic crashes. Poor preparation, ignored safety protocols, and rushed onboarding create conditions that make tragedy almost inevitable.
Proper Training Is the Foundation of Safety
A commercial driver’s license (CDL) may qualify someone to operate a tractor-trailer, but it doesn’t guarantee readiness for real-world conditions. Federal law requires carriers to train drivers on critical safety topics, including hours-of-service limits, pre-trip inspections, speed control, and space management.
When companies fail to verify or provide this training, they leave gaps that can lead to disaster. A driver who doesn’t understand fatigue regulations may push beyond safe limits. One who hasn’t been trained on braking distances may misjudge stopping time. The result can be a collision that was entirely preventable with proper education and oversight.
We’ve represented victims in cases where companies cut corners, hired “experienced” drivers without real verification, or relied solely on manuals rather than hands-on instruction. In those situations, the company’s shortcuts become a central issue of liability.
Negligent Training Can Lead to Preventable Crashes
Some trucking companies claim they don’t need to train drivers because they hire only those with prior experience. But experience isn’t the same as understanding. Many drivers come from smaller carriers or intrastate operations that don’t follow all federal rules, yet large companies often fail to bridge that gap.
In one of our cases, a driver was hired for interstate passenger transport after years of local work that did not require hours-of-service compliance. Within a month, she caused a serious crash just minutes before exceeding her driving limit. Her employer’s failure to teach her federal regulations transformed the case from driver negligence to corporate negligence, where it rightfully belonged.
When carriers rely on assumptions rather than instructions, they put everyone on the road in danger.
Failing to Retrain and Discipline Unsafe Drivers
Training shouldn’t stop after a driver is hired. Federal regulations and industry standards require companies to monitor performance and provide corrective instruction when problems arise. Too many carriers ignore that duty.
Modern fleets use electronic tracking systems that record location, speed, and idle time. These tools can alert companies to repeated speeding, harsh braking, or erratic driving, but only if someone reviews the data. When a company overlooks those red flags, it’s a sign of systemic neglect.
In one case we handled, the company performed annual driver reviews that noted the same safety issues year after year. Despite the warnings, no additional training was provided. In another, a dispatcher imposed delivery deadlines that couldn’t be met without violating hours-of-service laws. That kind of pressure teaches drivers that breaking the law is part of the job, and when a crash happens, that policy becomes powerful evidence of negligence.
How the Driver’s Testimony Can Reveal the Truth
In many cases, the defendant driver becomes one of the most important witnesses for the injured party. During depositions, drivers often confirm that they didn’t receive training on key safety topics or that they believed they were following company expectations at the time of the crash.
Those statements are invaluable. They reveal not just what happened on the road, but what happened inside the company that led to it. A driver who says they thought their behavior was consistent with employer instructions is effectively describing the company’s failure to train and supervise.
Building a Case Around Negligent Training
Negligent-training cases require detailed knowledge of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and a strategic approach to discovery. Internal documents, hiring records, driver manuals, and telematics reports can all reveal whether a company took its duty to train seriously—or simply checked a box.
Our attorneys know where to look and what questions to ask. We review:
- Onboarding and orientation records
- Road test results and performance notes
- Safety meeting attendance logs
- Internal communications about driver conduct
- Disciplinary records or lack thereof
Each piece of evidence helps connect the company’s internal practices to the unsafe behavior that caused the crash.
Holding Trucking Companies Accountable for Training Failures
Cases involving negligent training go beyond proving driver error. They expose deeper failures inside the company, failures that reveal a culture of complacency and profit-driven shortcuts.
At Fried Goldberg LLC, we’ve built our career on uncovering those failures and holding carriers accountable nationwide. Our team understands the nuances of federal trucking regulations and how to translate them into compelling evidence for juries.
If you suspect poor training contributed to a truck crash, we can help you uncover the truth, build a stronger case, and pursue full accountability. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today.
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