Do Overly Tired Truck Drivers Cause More Accidents?

 Posted on May 28, 2025 in Truck Accidents

Truck drivers spend a considerable amount of time behind the wheel of their semi-trucks. Extended work hours and trying to sleep on the road can lead to overly fatigued truck drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) estimates that at least 13 percent of truck drivers were overly fatigued at the time of their collision. Long-haul drivers are allowed to drive 11 to 14 hours at a stretch.

If you have ever driven for 11 hours straight, you know just how mentally and physically taxing it can be, yet truck drivers do this virtually every day. Exhaustion can dull reflexes, cloud judgment, and result in truck accidents that cause serious, even fatal, injuries. If you are the victim of an accident caused by an overly fatigued truck driver, it is important to speak to an experienced Plainfield, IL truck accident lawyer.

Why Are Exceeding Hours for Truck Drivers Often Tolerated by the Industry?

A truck driver is only paid for the time spent behind the wheel. The driver’s motivation for driving while exhausted is his or her paycheck. The trucking company’s motivation for looking the other way when it is clear a driver is exceeding his or her hours is also money.

The quicker a load turns around, the quicker the company gets paid and can send the driver on another delivery. Truck drivers have a long-standing tradition of keeping two sets of driver logs. One reflects the real hours driven for pay purposes, and the other reflects the allowed hours in case the driver is stopped and questioned by a Department of Transportation (DOT) representative.

Truck drivers' irregular schedules make it extremely difficult to maintain normal sleep patterns. Sleeping in a truck cab simply cannot provide an optimal sleep environment. Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders are much more common among truck drivers than in non-truck drivers. All of these issues create a situation where an accident is much more likely to occur.

What Are the Consequences of Truck Driver Fatigue?

Sleep deprivation – for truck drivers or any driver – degrades alertness and driving performance in the following ways:

• An overly-fatigued driver has slower reaction times, taking longer to react to an unexpected event or road hazard.
• Constant sleep deprivation increases moodiness and irritability in drivers, which in turn often leads to aggressive or reckless driving.
• Sleepy drivers can experience lapses in attention and "microsleeps," where they fall asleep for a few seconds. Those few seconds can be deadly if a traffic signal or stop sign is missed.
• Overly fatigued drivers often misjudge speeds and distances as their decision-making skills become impaired.

Microsleeps are common among truck drivers and are small lapses in consciousness that may last less than five seconds. Unfortunately, at 70 mph, a truck can travel the length of a football field in that time, while the driver sleeps. The truck may drift into an oncoming lane or come up on a vehicle driving below the speed limit. Driving while overly fatigued is always dangerous.

Truck Drivers Are Unlikely to Own Up to Fatigue Following an Accident

It would be rare for a truck driver to admit he or she was too tired to be driving following an accident because there is too much at stake, including his or her job, CDL license, perhaps even his or her freedom. The fact remains that sleep-deprived brains are not able to think clearly, make rational decisions, or keep judgment sound. A skilled truck accident attorney can uncover signs of fatigue even when the truck driver does not admit it.  

Contact a Will County, IL Truck Accident Lawyer

The sheer size of a semi-truck means that those in a passenger vehicle are likely to suffer severe, even catastrophic injuries. Having a strong legal advocate can make a difference in whether your injuries and other damages are fully covered.

Following a truck accident, it is a good idea to speak to a Plainfield, IL truck accident attorney from Flaherty Law, LLC. Attorney Flaherty began his career in insurance defense litigation, which benefits his personal injury clients. Call 815-577-7500 to schedule your free consultation.