Regulations in Texas

Holding Trucking Companies Accountable for Safety Violations

The Texas trucking industry is one of the busiest in the nation, moving billions of dollars’ worth of freight every year. From San Antonio’s IH-35 and Loop 410 freight corridors to US-77 in Brownsville and Expressway 83 running through Harlingen and the Rio Grande Valley, commercial vehicles dominate the roads. On any given day, drivers encounter 18-wheelers, box trucks, tankers, dump trucks, and tow trucks hauling goods across Bexar, Cameron, and Hidalgo Counties.

With so much heavy truck traffic in South Texas, strict federal trucking regulations are essential to protect motorists, pedestrians, and communities. That’s why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) — part of the U.S. Department of Transportation — enforces nationwide safety standards for truck drivers, vehicles, and motor carriers. These regulations cover everything from hours-of-service limits and CDL requirements to hazardous material protocols and vehicle maintenance standards.

Unfortunately, when trucking companies or drivers ignore FMCSA rules, the consequences are catastrophic. Texans face multi-vehicle pileups on IH-10 near San Antonio, fatal underride crashes on US-281, and deadly rollovers on rural highways in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties. Every year, thousands of families are left dealing with life-changing injuries, truck accident-related wrongful deaths, and financial devastation — all because safety standards designed to prevent crashes were ignored.

For victims, proving that a driver or trucking company violated federal trucking regulations in Texas can be the key to holding negligent parties accountable and recovering maximum compensation.

Key Federal Trucking Regulations That Protect Texans

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) set nationwide trucking standards to reduce accidents and protect the public. These rules are especially important in Texas, where high volumes of freight move daily through San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, and across South Texas highways.

Major FMCSA Regulations Every Trucking Company Must Follow

• Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Requirements – Only drivers who are properly licensed, tested, and medically cleared can operate large commercial vehicles. In Texas, drivers must carry the correct CDL class (A, B, or C) and endorsements for hazmat, tankers, or passenger vehicles. A driver without the right CDL is a danger to everyone on IH-35 and Loop 410.
• Hours-of-Service (HOS) Limits – Fatigued truckers are one of the leading causes of highway accidents. Federal law limits driving hours and requires mandatory rest breaks to reduce drowsy driving. These limits are critical for drivers hauling freight through South Texas overnight routes on I-37, US-77, and Expressway 83.
• Weight and Size Restrictions – Overloaded or oversized trucks take longer to stop and are prone to rollovers and jackknife crashes. FMCSA rules cap truck weights to keep unsafe rigs off busy roads like Loop 1604 in San Antonio and US-281 in Hidalgo County, where high speeds and congestion already pose risks.
• Drug and Alcohol Testing – Federal law requires strict testing for drugs and alcohol, even during a driver’s off-duty hours. Impaired truckers can turn highways into deadly zones, especially in downtown San Antonio or near Brownsville port traffic.
• Hazardous Materials Standards – Trucks carrying chemicals, fuels, or other dangerous cargo need special endorsements, training, and safety protocols. These standards are vital in Brownsville port areas and Harlingen industrial zones, where hazmat shipments move daily. A single violation can put entire communities at risk.
• Maintenance & Inspection Rules – Carriers must conduct regular inspections and repairs for brakes, tires, steering systems, and lights. Skipping maintenance can lead to tire blowouts on I-10, brake failures on steep San Antonio roads, and fatal crashes throughout South Texas.

Why These Rules Matter

These federal trucking regulations exist to protect every driver on Texas roads. But far too often, trucking companies and carriers cut corners to protect profits, leaving trucks overloaded, drivers exhausted, and vehicles unsafe. When violations occur, the consequences are catastrophic — and the victims are usually Texas families driving smaller passenger vehicles.

How Trucking Companies Evade Safety Rules

Even though federal trucking regulations are designed to protect the public, many companies in Texas cut corners to maximize profits. Our investigations in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, and throughout South Texas consistently uncover the same violations:

• Falsified logbooks: Some drivers and carriers use “ghost logs” or digital tampering to hide hours-of-service violations, allowing exhausted drivers to keep hauling on IH-35 or US-77.
• Skipping inspections: Companies often skip required brake and tire inspections to save money, even though worn equipment causes devastating crashes on Loop 1604 and I-37.
• Expired or fraudulent medical cards: Unsafe drivers with sleep apnea, poor eyesight, or diabetes complications are allowed on the road when companies ignore expired medical certificates.
• Overloaded trailers: South Texas highways like US-281 and IH-69 often see rigs carrying overweight loads, increasing rollover and jackknife risks.
• Hazmat shipments without endorsements: In Brownsville port traffic and Harlingen industrial zones, unqualified drivers haul chemicals and fuel, putting entire communities at risk of explosions or toxic spills.

Each of these violations is more than just a safety risk — they often become the smoking gun in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. When records reveal tampering, skipped maintenance, or ignored medical disqualifications, it strengthens a victim’s case and increases compensation.

Texas DPS Enforcement on Local Roads

While the FMCSA sets national standards, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) plays a critical role in enforcing trucking regulations on state highways and local roads. DPS inspectors regularly uncover violations across Bexar, Cameron, and Hidalgo Counties:

• Weigh stations and checkpoints on IH-35 near San Antonio and US-77 outside Brownsville, where overloaded trailers are flagged and fined.
• Random roadside inspections in Harlingen and across the Rio Grande Valley, verifying CDLs, driver logs, medical cards, and vehicle condition.
• Immediate out-of-service orders for rigs with unsafe brakes, defective tires, or drivers caught under the influence on Loop 410 in San Antonio or Expressway 83 in Cameron County.

Inspection reports and DPS citations often become powerful evidence in Texas truck accident cases. A single violation — whether it’s an overweight load, a falsified logbook, or a disqualified driver — can shift liability squarely onto the trucking company and expose a pattern of negligence.

Maintenance & Repair Failures in Texas Trucking

Federal law requires all trucking companies to follow minimum inspection, repair, and maintenance programs. These rules exist because a single mechanical failure in an 18-wheeler, tanker, or tow truck can cause catastrophic crashes on Texas highways. Unfortunately, many carriers in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, and across South Texas routinely cut corners to save money.

Our investigations often uncover:

• Brake failures – On steep downhill stretches outside San Antonio and along IH-10 and Loop 1604, faulty brakes have caused trucks to slam into smaller vehicles, leading to chain-reaction collisions.
• Tire blowouts – In Harlingen and Cameron County, worn-out or underinflated tires frequently explode at highway speeds, triggering deadly rollover accidents and jackknife crashes.
• Incomplete inspection logs – Fleets based in Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley often fail to keep proper maintenance records, or they produce falsified logs after an accident to cover up years of neglect.

When a trucking company cannot produce complete, accurate inspection and repair records, it often signals a pattern of negligence. In Texas courts, missing or falsified maintenance logs can be used as evidence that a company knowingly put unsafe trucks on the road. This strengthens the victim’s claim and can significantly increase compensation in a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit.

Why Federal Trucking Regulations Matter in Texas Lawsuits

When a trucking company breaks FMCSA safety rules, it’s not just a regulatory violation — in Texas courts, it can amount to negligence per se. That means if a driver or carrier violates federal trucking regulations, liability may be automatic, and the victim doesn’t have to prove ordinary negligence.

This distinction is critical in Texas truck accident lawsuits. By uncovering evidence of FMCSA violations, victims in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, and across South Texas can often secure stronger claims, faster resolutions, and higher compensation. If you are in need of a truck accident lawyers in Harlingen, do not hesitate to contact us.

Our truck accident lawyers near me conduct in-depth investigations to uncover every possible violation, including:

• CDL and endorsement records – Was the driver licensed for the truck, load, or hazardous cargo they were hauling?
• Hours-of-service logs – Do records show the driver exceeded legal driving limits, leading to fatigue?
• Texas DPS inspection reports – Were prior violations ignored, or did the company keep operating unsafe trucks?
• Maintenance histories – Do repair logs reveal skipped inspections, falsified records, or defective equipment?
• Drug and alcohol test results – Was the driver impaired or operating in violation of FMCSA testing requirements?

When violations surface, they can significantly increase compensation for victims in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, and across South Texas.

Speak With a Texas Truck Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one were injured in a truck accident in San Antonio, Brownsville, Harlingen, or anywhere in South Texas, you need a law firm that understands federal trucking regulations and Texas enforcement laws.

Call our truck accident attorneys near me at (210) 893-0000 in San Antonio or (956) 368-0000 in Brownsville/Harlingen for a free case evaluation. We fight for victims across Bexar County, Cameron County, Hidalgo County, and the Rio Grande Valley.