“A truck driver can legally drive up to 11 hours a day, but just one wrong hour on the road can lead to disaster.”
Truck accidents aren’t rare. They happen every day across the country, often with devastating results.
If you’ve been in a truck accident, the trucker travel log could be one of the most important pieces of evidence in your case. These logs contain critical details that may prove truck driver negligence or highlight failures in how trucking companies operate.
What is a Trucker Travel Log?
A truck driver’s travel log, also called a “driver’s log” or “hours-of-service (HOS) log,” tracks a trucker’s daily activities. These include:
- Start and stop times for driving
- Rest and sleep breaks
- Time spent on duty but not driving
- Off-duty periods
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires drivers to log this data using Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs). These devices are mandatory for most commercial drivers under federal law.
Why? Because the risk of fatigue is deadly. The FMCSA estimates that driver fatigue is a factor in 13% of large truck crashes. Travel logs are designed to hold drivers accountable to safety limits.
What Information is Included in a Truck Driver’s Travel Log?
A travel log isn’t just a clock-in system. It contains detailed records, including:
- Hours spent driving and on duty
- Start and end times of each driving shift
- Location and mileage tracking
- Mandatory rest periods and breaks
- Vehicle inspection notes
This information is crucial after an accident. A complete and accurate log can show if the driver followed federal rules. A flawed or missing log may raise serious questions about truck driver negligence.
How Truck Driver Negligence Shows Up in Travel Logs
When a driver breaks hours-of-service (HOS) rules, their travel log becomes more than just a record. It becomes a paper trail of truck driver negligence. These logs help lawyers and insurance investigators identify signs of unsafe behavior and build a case for liability. Here’s how that works in practice:
1. Exceeding Driving Hour Limits
The FMCSA imposes strict limits on how long a driver can be behind the wheel. These are not guidelines. They are federal rules designed to prevent crashes caused by fatigue.
When a travel log shows that a driver exceeded any of these limits, it signals serious risk. Fatigued driving affects focus, reflexes, and decision-making, similar to driving under the influence. If an accident occurred after a violation of these rules, that violation can directly support a claim that the driver acted negligently and put others at risk.
In legal terms, this is evidence of “negligence per se,” meaning the breach of a specific law helps establish fault automatically.
2. False Entries or Gaps in the Log
A travel log is supposed to be precise and consistent. But when something doesn’t add up, like a missing entry, a time gap, or conflicting location data, it can raise red flags.
Some drivers may falsify logs to:
- Appear compliant with HOS regulations
- Avoid penalties or fines
- Meet delivery deadlines under company pressure
Investigators can compare the travel log with other data sources like:
- GPS tracking systems
- Toll receipts
- Fuel purchases
- Dispatch records
- Surveillance footage
If those records don’t match the log, it suggests manipulation or an attempt to hide unsafe practices. False logs can also indicate company-level negligence, especially if the employer allowed or encouraged falsification to increase profits.
3. Missed Breaks
Federal rules also require at least one 30-minute off-duty break after 8 hours of cumulative driving. These breaks are intended to help drivers recharge and stay alert. Skipping them might save a little time, but it puts everyone on the road at greater risk.
Travel logs reveal whether drivers actually took these breaks. A missing or shortened break can show the driver was likely pushing through fatigue, possibly at the instruction of a dispatcher or supervisor. If a driver involved in a crash didn’t take a required break, that’s another layer of evidence supporting a claim of truck driver negligence.
Missed breaks also suggest poor safety culture at the trucking company. In some cases, the log will reflect that a break was “taken” but GPS data shows the truck never stopped moving, a sign that the break was falsified.
How a Travel Log Could Help After an Accident
If you’re hit by a commercial truck, the travel log can become a key piece of evidence. Here’s how it can help:
- Show fatigue: If the driver was behind the wheel too long, it can support claims of driver fatigue.
- Prove violations: Logs can confirm that the trucker exceeded the allowed driving hours or skipped mandatory breaks.
- Identify timeline: Log timestamps help reconstruct the trucker’s route and whether they were speeding or rushing.
- Strengthen liability: If the travel log contradicts the company’s statements, it could support a claim of employer negligence.
Logs are often used alongside GPS records, weigh station entries, and delivery schedules to build a case. This type of evidence can increase your leverage during settlement negotiations.
Laws and Regulations That Govern Truck Drivers
Truck drivers and their employers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Key rules include:
- 11-Hour Driving Limit: A driver may drive up to 11 hours after 10 hours off duty.
- 14-Hour Limit: Drivers cannot operate after 14 consecutive hours on duty.
- 30-Minute Break Rule: Required after 8 hours of cumulative driving.
- 60/70-Hour Limit: No more than 60 hours in 7 days or 70 in 8 days, depending on the schedule.
Violating any of these rules can lead to driver penalties and bolster your claim of truck driver negligence in a civil lawsuit.
Why These Logs Matter for Your Settlement
If you’re in a truck accident, your settlement will depend on proving fault and damages. The trucker travel log can:
- Show the driver violated federal law
- Link fatigue or inattention to the crash
- Help prove that the trucking company was negligent in supervision
- Increase your leverage during negotiations
Without the log, your case may rely more on witness statements or physical evidence, which are harder to prove.
How Lawyers Use Travel Logs in Truck Accident Cases
Here’s what an experienced attorney like one from Mike Slocumb Law Firm will do with a travel log:
1. Request the Log Immediately
Under federal rules, companies must retain logs for at least six months. A delay could mean key evidence is lost. Your lawyer will send a spoliation letter to preserve the data.
2. Compare With Other Data Sources
ELDs, GPS tracking, fuel receipts, and delivery schedules are cross-checked to verify accuracy. Any mismatch may suggest tampering or negligence.
3. Bring in Experts
Accident reconstruction experts and safety compliance officers may be brought in to review the logs and interpret whether the truck driver was fatigued or breaking HOS laws.
What You Should Do After a Truck Accident
If you’ve been hit by a semi-truck or commercial vehicle, act fast. Here’s a quick list:
- Seek medical attention even if you feel fine
- Report the accident by filing a police report and documenting everything
- Do not speak with the trucking company’s insurer because they’ll look to limit liability
- Contact an attorney who is experienced in handling truck accident cases
An attorney will know how to secure the trucker’s travel log before it’s gone.
How the Mike Slocumb Law Firm Can Help
Truck accident claims are different from car accidents. They’re often more severe, more complex, and involve deeper investigations into truck driver negligence and company conduct. At Mike Slocumb Law Firm, we know how to dig deep. We fight for victims injured by careless truck drivers and fatigued operators who should never have been on the road.
You don’t need to guess if a travel log might help your case. We’ll get it and use it to your advantage.
Call Mike Slocumb Law Firm today for a free consultation. We’ll review your case, request critical records, and help you understand what your claim may be worth. Your recovery starts with the right legal team.