By Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury & Accident lawyers

06/08/2020 There are many box trucks on the road today. They are useful for everything from delivery trucks to moving vans. Despite their relatively smaller size in comparison to 18-wheelers, they are commercial motor vehicles. However, because the law permits them to be leased out to non-professional drivers, other drivers need to be aware that the person behind the wheel of the box truck on the road with them may not be qualified to handle the vehicle. This makes them a potential hazard.
Moving Truck Drivers are Often Amateurs
Box trucks look a lot like a smaller version of a big rig. They are more compact than larger Class 8 commercial trucks, giving them greater maneuverability on the road. Unfortunately, their large box-shaped cargo area still has many of the visibility disadvantages of large trucks in that the blind spots can make cars to the rear and sides difficult if not impossible to see.
Box trucks are commonly rented out to the public as moving vans. The problem with this is that the average person does not have a commercial driver's license and may is not familiar with all the blind spots of the vehicle, increased stopping distances, and other variations large commercial vehicles have. So, you may be driving next to someone operating a large, heavily-loaded truck who has never been behind the wheel of one before.
Ignorance is No Excuse
Regardless of their disadvantages, box trucks are still required to follow the same rules of the road as other drivers in addition to applicable federal regulations. The operator must ensure the lanes are clear when they go to change lanes and they must use signals to indicate that a lane change is in motion to prevent an accidental collision with a passing vehicle. This is true of both the professional box truck drivers and the inexperienced moving van operators. So just because a driver is leasing the vehicle for a one-time use does not mean he/she is excused from driving the vehicle with the same level of care that professional drivers are required to demonstrate.
Negligent Entrustment
A second issue that arises in box truck cases, is the issue of negligent entrustment. When a moving truck is leased to an individual, the leasing company must check to make sure that the driver has a valid driver’s license. If the operator is an employee or contractor, this duty is higher—requiring that there be a driving history check. Because companies often have more insurance and/or assets than individuals, it is important that you hire an attorney to investigate the truck accident who is aware of the differences in the duties required. Otherwise, he may miss important evidence that can impose liability on the company versus just the driver.
Conclusion

When someone causes a wreck while driving a box truck, it is important that you hire a truck accident attorney who recognizes the subtle differences in these cases. The driver may be unskilled and unprofessional, but he is still held to a high standard. Additionally, understanding the negligent entrustment issues can be the difference in holding all of the proper actors accountable.