How to Report an Unsafe Truck Driver

Various scenarios can lead a truck driver to faulty driving. The road can be a fun place but dangerous at the same time, especially when sharing the road with larger vehicles such as 18 wheelers. The size and weight going at a high rate of speed is a fatality waiting to happen.

If you spot a truck driver’s negligence, it is vital to follow these steps to get the driver some help or get them off the road entirely if they are driving carelessly. It takes great responsibility for your safety, and everyone else’s safety on the road, even the truck driver.  

The Steps to Follow to Report a Truck Driver’s Negligence

You can report an unsafe truck driver by contacting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

1. Go to their website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

2. Find “Complaints, Comments, Suggestions” on the right side of the page in orange text and click “safety hotline.” This will take you to a page where you can submit either a safety complaint or an employment verification request. If you are already logged into your My FMCSA account, then choose “Safety Complaint,” otherwise, choose “General Feedback” and follow the instructions for submitting both fields of information when prompted.

3. When filling out your safety complaint, be sure to include the following information:

■ The name of the trucking company you are filing a complaint against, including any aliases or other names they might go by.

■ What violation(s) did the driver commit? Please be specific. For example, “The driver was on his cell phone while driving.”

■ Who observed this violation? If you were not present when it happened, please provide a way to contact them (email address, phone number).

■ When and where did this incident take place? Please be as specific as possible to have all the necessary information to process your report quickly and thoroughly.

■ Please provide any additional information that you believe is relevant to the complaint.

4. When filling out your employment verification request, be sure to include the following information:

■ The name of the company you are requesting verification.

■ What documents do you need to be verified? If they do not supply them, then please explain what type of documents you would like, and they can verify if they exist and whether or not they were filed with FMCSA or State agencies.

■ Who should we contact at this company for more information on these documents? Please provide their full name, title, phone number, and email address so that they may speak with them directly as needed.

5. When filling out your employment verification request, be sure to provide your contact information if they have any questions regarding your report. This should include the following:

■ Your full name 

■ mailing address, 

■ phone number 

■ Email address (optional)

6. Upon receipt of this information, it may take up to 72 business hours for the team to respond back with any available updates or actions that will need to occur next for them to process your complaint properly. If additional time is required, then you will receive an automatic email response within 72 hours, letting you know when a new reply is available if one does not exist.

What To Do After Filing the Complaint?

Understand what your rights are when filing a complaint with the police. For example, know what type of information they need from you for charges to be filed or infractions issued (i.e., proof of identity, license papers, vehicle registration). Be sure that you know whether or not you can file charges on behalf of someone else who was involved in the incident with you.

Here is a list of things of what you should do after reporting an unsafe truck driver:

■ Keep all of the information you’ve collected about the incident together in one place. You will need all of this information while testifying or presenting your case in court.

■ Write down everything you remember happening and become familiar with it yourself and what exactly happened.

■ Take pictures (if permitted) and be sure to note their date and time on them; if possible, use a GPS function to mark exactly where they were taken on a map. If not allowed, write down as much description of the area as possible (nearest town and other scenic areas)

■ If injured, call your insurance company (or medical provider) to file an accident report after completing any necessary emergency care. Also, call the police department to file a report.

■ If necessary, file a report with your state’s department of transportation. When doing so, be sure to include all the information you have about the incident and the driver (i.e., license number).

Things You Should Not Do After Filing a Complaint

After you’ve reported your complaint, there are several things that you should not do. Do NOT call the police about the incident again unless they ask for more information. Simply reporting your concern will suffice.

Do NOT put yourself in danger of another unsafe situation with the truck driver if it is possible to avoid it. You can report what happened without confronting or interacting with him at all.

Do NOT file any other formal complaints or lawsuits about the same incident unless directed by a representative representing you (i.e., your attorney, legal representative, and insurance company). If something happens later, they can informally contact their local law enforcement agency and let them know that a complaint was filed earlier. Still, no laws were broken during the initial contact.

Do NOT go so far as to file a lawsuit against the truck driver if you are not interested in seeking financial restitution for any damages that occurred during or after your initial interview with police. If you are interested in this, it is best to consult an attorney before filing anything related to this incident. It is best to keep all legalities separate and document them individually.

Understand what your rights are when filing a complaint with police and what type of information they need from you for charges to be filed or infractions issued (i.e., proof of identity, license papers, vehicle registration). Be sure that you know whether or not you can file charges on behalf of someone else who was involved in the incident with you.

Know the Difference

There are several examples of unsafe driving by truck drivers, and it is essential to know the difference between a simple mistake and a careless operation. If an accident is reported to the authorities, it takes them time to verify what happened. It may be difficult to tell the difference, but you should still be as sure as possible.

It is vital to report a dangerous driver to save lives. However, we all make mistakes, and reporting a simple mistake can be costly to truck drivers’ careers and waste highway patrols’ time when it is not necessary. Only report unsafe driving, which means constant errors back to back.

If the truck driver only went over the line slightly then corrected their mistake immediately, do not waste anyone’s time. Use the system properly to avoid false alarms. This will keep everyone safe and put the highway patrol where they are needed the most.

Similar Stories