The headquarters for Covenant Transport is in Chattanooga, TN. From their base, they deliver freight across the country with 1000 trucks. Despite this modest fleet, the company earned over 1700 safety citations over the course of two years. To see the latest data, view a recent report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. 

Per the report, the latest inspection concluded in December of 2018. At this time, they conducted 2,769 inspections. Among these, 932 resulted in violations. Moreover, in that period, our Covenant transport truck accident lawyers found their involvement in over 200 reported accidents. 

This is a slight improvement to a prior period in which they experienced 286 crashes. Among those crashes, there were 130 injuries. Unfortunately, these accidents also resulted in 14 fatalities. 

The unfortunate reality in 18-wheeler accidents is how catastrophic yet preventable they are. When you sustain an injury in a commercial vehicle accident, contact our team to learn more about your rights. As your advocates, we fight to protect your future. 

David and Jacqueline Parker together founded Covenant Transportation Group in 1986. When the couple started the company, their fleet included 50 trailers and 25 semi-tractors. Today, their fleet travels millions of miles across North America. Moreover, their fleet of trucks and trailers together numbers in the thousands. 

As a trucking company, they manage transportation services and offer LTL shipping. LTL refers to “less than truckload,” which means customers share space on the trucks. Our Covenant Transport truck accident lawyers understand that this company also works with “sister companies.” These include the following. 

• Southern Refrigerated Transport 
• Landair Transportation 
• Star Transportation 

Additionally, it acquired a large stake in Transport Enterprise Leasing, which leases tractors and trailers to other businesses. They also sell these vehicles out to other companies. As you can see, the reach of this company is quite extensive. 

Companies like this drive our Covenant Transport truck accident lawyers to hold trucking companies accountable. When acts of negligence cause harm to others, it is essential to hold the liable accountable for the damage they cause. 

In 2017 alone, over 150,000 truck collisions occurred across the United States. Among these, 50% resulted in injuries with over 4,000 deaths. Unfortunately, Texas saw more accidents than any state that year. 

These 18-wheeler collisions constitute over 11% of the fatalities on US highways. This is a staggering number because these trucks make up a mere 5% of the vehicles on our highways. Moreover, the injuries people sustain in these accidents are often catastrophic. 

These are some common examples of the injuries people sustain in large truck accidents. 

• Burn injuries 
• Brain injuries 
• Blunt force trauma 
• Spinal cord injuries 
• Post-traumatic stress disorder 
• Paralysis
• Wrongful death

The unfortunate reality is that these accidents change people’s lives forever. As Covenant Transport truck accident lawyers, we want to help you rebuild. All it takes to begin is a free consultation. Share your story with our attorneys and learn more about your options. 

Vital Issues in the Trucking Industry

What causes these accidents? When the devastation of large truck wrecks is so impactful, how do trucking companies prevent them? 

The reality of the trucking industry is this. On a daily basis, thousands of drivers operate vehicles that weigh roughly 80,000 pounds. Oftentimes, these drivers work under stressful conditions that push them into fatigue. Unfortunately, that puts everyone else on the road at risk. 

Let’s take a moment to examine the root of the issue. These truck drivers work too much and have unfair agreements about how they work. As such, drivers haul freight against regulations without sleep. Why? 

Because they only receive pay while on the road. This pay-per-mile structure is common among new, inexperienced drivers. Under this system, the drivers only receive pay for the miles they drive each day. 

However, this means they do not receive pay for vital work they do when not behind the wheel. Long-haul truckers have work that extends beyond the road. Often, this means they spend more than they make on certain days. 

As such, they feel a sense of desperation. It pushes them into longer hours the next day. This vicious cycle puts numerous motorists at risk. When the potential result is a deadly collision, this negligence is extremely harmful. 

Essential Work Outside of Driving

• Submitting to safety inspections 
• Taking federally mandated rests 
• Mapping out their routes 
• Picking up new loads 
• Waiting for crews to safely load or unload cargo

Our Covenant Transport truck accident lawyers understand this last aspect all too well. As LTL shippers, truck companies split loads across multiple clients. Often, this means drivers make frequent stops, limiting their time on the road. In turn, this limits their pay. 

The pressure to meet multiple deadlines often results in hurried crews trying to help the driver back on the road. Unfortunately, LTL shipments require a specific balance for the truck to operate well. 

Weight distribution is essential for trucks because improper distribution can cause the trailer to veer into other lanes. 

Instead of offering drivers a better pay structure, some trucking companies encourage them to defy regulations. In some instances, they train them to maintain multiple logbooks. One logbook shows compliance with federal regulations and mandated breaks. The other shows their actual hours. 

This type of thinking pits truckers against regulations that protect us all. Moreover, the “hard-driving culture” causes some drivers to go up to 48 hours without adequate sleep. Beyond hostile work conditions, this carries deadly consequences.