One of the responsibilities of truck drivers in Louisiana and around the country is to keep a daily log book. Unfortunately, in some cases, after a trucker gets into an accident, they falsify information in their log books. This is a U.S. Department of Transportation violation that carries penalties.
Why do truckers falsify their daily log books?
There are various reasons why a truck driver might falsify their daily log book. Aside from wanting to avoid making a record of a truck accident, the following are other reasons for it:
• Lying about how often the truck is moving to try to save money on insurance premiums.
• Lying about how many miles the truck has traveled to gain more money.
• Counting unloading times as part of the trucker’s on-duty shift to earn more money.
• The trucker may be worried about their job due to unfair demands from their employer, such as making a delivery by a certain time.
• Truckers may falsify logs in their log books due to health reasons.
• Family obligations such as holidays may cause truckers to falsify information in their log books so they can get home sooner.
• Pressure from the shipping company to make a delivery in the shortest amount of time possible.
What are the penalties for falsifying data in daily log books?
Whether a trucker falsifies entries in their daily log books to conceal truck accidents or any other reason, they can face serious penalties. The driver can even be prosecuted. The following penalties can be applied:
• Fine of $12,135 for knowingly falsifying records
• $26,126 fine for not stopping operations for an out-of-service order
• $78,376 fine for violating safety regulations when transporting hazardous substances
• $182,877 for truck accidents that result in property damage, injuries or death