Many truck drivers are not paid a salary or an hourly wage. Instead, they are paid on a “cents per mile” basis. The amount of money they earn simply depends on how many miles they can cover during a given pay period.
Companies like this because they essentially feel like they are paying for production. They only have to compensate the driver for the specific work that they’re doing. If the driver takes a break, stops to eat or something of this nature, the company isn’t paying them for that time.
But this can be somewhat dangerous because it puts pressure on truck drivers, which could lead to serious accidents.
Speeding and aggressive driving
Specifically, the issue is that truck drivers understand that covering more miles means they can earn more money. They have a financial incentive, then, to take risks.
For example, a truck driver may find themselves in a bank of fog or a snowstorm. They know they should slow down, but it’s going to cost them a significant amount of money to do so. They may be tempted to continue driving at 65 miles an hour, even though it’s far too fast for the conditions.
Additionally, a truck driver may try to make up for lost time after the fact. If they get stuck in a traffic jam, for example, they’re losing money while they sit in the stalled traffic. Does this make them more likely to drive aggressively to try to get out of the traffic jam, or are they more likely to break the speed limit after traffic clears, trying to earn back the money that they lost?
Seeking financial compensation
This is just one of the potential dangers of sharing the road with commercial vehicles. Those who have been involved in truck accidents and suffered serious injuries must know about all of the legal options at their disposal.
