Trusted Truck Driver Personal Injury and Wage Attorneys in Pasadena

Pasadena is one of the largest and wealthiest cities in California. This is, in part, thanks to its proximity to Los Angeles. The city has diverse economies and industries offering a range of jobs. It is also home to the famous New Year’s Day Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.

Because of its size and economic complexity, Pasadena needs a robust cargo transport network. However, the ongoing truck driver shortage that has been affecting the entire U.S. is also taking its toll on the city.

Now, more than ever, truck driver rights are under the spotlight. Experts point to low wages and unfair working conditions as the main reasons for people’s hesitation to become or continue working as truck drivers.

This also means that truck drivers need a reliable ally to protect their rights to safe working conditions and fair wages. The team of legal professionals at Truck Driver Rights focuses on cases where truck drivers’ wages, hours, working conditions, and personal injuries are involved.

Piece-Rate Compensation

Drivers encounter several issues with wages and compensation because the piece-rate system is standard in this industry. Piece rate means drivers can be paid based on the number of miles they have driven, the percentage of load they have delivered, or the hours they have worked.

The problem with the per-mile and per-load system is that it may not be an accurate representation of the hours spent working.

In California, the Labor Code outlines that any worker’s piece-rate pay should not fall lower than the state’s minimum wage, which is at $13 to $14.

Truck drivers are also entitled to separate compensation for hours worked that are not covered by the piece rate. These include hours spent inspecting, maintaining, and repairing vehicles, as well as time spent in meetings, taking training courses, loading and unloading the truck, and delays in the trip caused by inclement weather.

Hours of Service Regulations

Truck drivers are covered by the Hours of Service regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration or FMCSA. According to these regulations, drivers have a right to the following:

• 30-Minute Driving Break – After spending eight hours driving without an interruption of 30 minutes, they need to take a 30-minute driving break. This time can be spent refueling or inspecting the vehicle.
• Adverse Driving Condition Provision – Truck drivers have the option to extend their 11-hour driving limit by up to two hours if they have to contend with adverse conditions on the road. These include traffic collisions and inclement weather.

Health and Safety Risks

Truck drivers deal with many health risks because of their long, solitary work hours. It is not unusual for truckers to experience stress, overfatigue, and chronic body pain. If left unaddressed, these conditions can impair the drivers’ ability to operate their vehicle and cause accidents.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drivers are also at risk for the following conditions:

• Obesity
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Heart disease

Aggressive Representation for Truck Drivers in Pasadena

Understanding your rights is only one of the steps you need to take to help ensure you receive appropriate compensation and defend your right to work under acceptable conditions. From here, you need the right attorneys on your side—the kind that will aggressively fight for you on and off the court.

Call Truck Driver Rights at 877-700-0009 or complete the free consultation form, so our truck driver lawyers in Pasadena can help you with your legal concerns, such as unfair compensation, lost wages, and poor working conditions.