While trucking is a vital part of Georgia’s economy, these large vehicles can pose significant risks to other motorists and pedestrians. Georgia trucking laws and regulations exist to protect the public from the dangers presented by these vehicles by keeping trucking companies in check and providing guidelines for drivers.

Georgia trucking regulations cover speed, weight, height, width, and length limits, as well as requirements regarding CDL acquisition, load securement, fleet management, and insurance coverage. In addition to Georgia’s laws, truckers and their employers must follow federal regulations.

If you suffered an injury in a Georgia truck accident, contact the experienced truck accident attorneys of Parker Trial Law. Since 2016, our law firm has been representing victims of serious injuries, including those suffered in truck accidents, and we’ve built a reputation for success in high-stakes personal injury cases.

Truck Speed Limits in Georgia

Maximum Georgia truck speed limits depend on the type of road and the location of the road. In general, trucks must follow these speed limits unless posted signs state otherwise:

  • 30 miles per hour on urban or residential roads
  • 35 miles per hour on unpaved county roads
  • 65 miles per hour on urban interstates or multi-lane divided highways
  • 70 miles per hour on rural interstates
  • 55 miles per hour in all other areas

Often, roads will have posted speed limits beneath these statewide maximums. And in some areas, there may be speed limits specifically for trucks, such as on steep inclines.

Truck drivers must stay within posted speed limits because the weight of their vehicles means they have increased stopping distances compared to smaller cars. A speeding truck driver has reduced reaction times and will take longer to stop once they react to road hazards.

Parker Trial Law’s experienced truck accident attorneys can determine if the trucker who caused your injuries was speeding before the crash. Proof of speeding can be valuable evidence for determining the driver’s liability for your injuries.

Truck Weight Limits in Georgia

The maximum gross weight for a truck in Georgia is 80,000 pounds. However, special permits can increase this limit. Beyond that, Georgia truck weight limits differ depending on the type of road the truck is traveling on. The two most common types of roads for trucking are interstate highways and state routes.

For interstate highways, the weight limits are:

  • 20,340 pounds for a single axle
  • 40,680 pounds for a tandem axle if the gross weight is less than 73,280 pounds and the length is greater than 55 feet
  • 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle if the gross weight is greater than 73,280 and the length is greater than 55 feet

For trucks traveling on state routes, the weight limits are:

  • A gross weight of 40,680 pounds on two axles
  • A gross weight of 61,020 pounds on three axles
  • A gross weight of 70,000 pounds on four axles
  • A gross weight of 80,000 pounds on five axles

Trucks that exceed these weight limits can cause excessive wear and tear on Georgia’s roads and suffer from equipment failures, such as brake failures and tire blowouts. When truck drivers and companies violate Georgia’s weight limits, they put other motorists in danger.

Georgia Height, Width, and Length Rules for Trucks

The maximum standard dimensions for a truck in Georgia are:

  • Height: 13′ 6″
  • Width: 8′ 6″
  • Length: 100′

The standard length of a trailer in Georgia is 53 feet. However, truckers can receive permits to extend the maximum length to 100 feet. Additional permits for oversized loads are also available if the height and width limits are insufficient.

Trucking companies that fail to adhere to these size restrictions increase the risk of accidents. Taller trucks can crash into bridges, power lines, and other obstacles above roads. Wider trucks can exceed the width of the lanes they’re traveling in, leading to crashes. And longer trucks require more space to turn.

Georgia CDL Requirements

To operate a commercial truck in Georgia, drivers need more than just a regular driver’s license. They need a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which has a separate set of requirements drivers must meet. The basic requirements for obtaining a CDL in Georgia are:

  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Applicants under 21 can only drive within Georgia’s state borders.
  • Applicants must have a regular Georgia driver’s license.
    • Applicants with out-of-state licenses must turn them in for a Georgia-issued license.
  • Applicants must provide documentation showing their identity, residential address, and U.S. citizenship or proof of lawful status.
  • Applicants must have a valid Class AP or BP Instructional Permit (CLP) for at least 14 days.
  • Applicants must apply for a Class A, B, or C CDL.
    • Class A: Semi-trucks
    • Class B: Single-part vehicles
    • Class C: Passenger vehicles
  • Applicants must complete the Commercial Application (CAP) and pay a $35 fee.
    • Each CAP is valid for four test attempts.

As part of our investigations into truck accidents, Parker Trial Law checks whether the truck driver held a valid CDL and was operating under the legal limits of their CDL when the crash occurred.

Georgia Load Securement Rules for Trucks

Properly securing cargo is essential for preventing accidents caused by shifting or falling loads. When loads shift during transit, they can increase the likelihood of rollover and jackknife accidents, which are some of the most dangerous types of large truck crashes.
Tiedowns used to secure loads fall into three categories:

  • ⅜” cable rated for a working load limit of 3,000 pounds
  • 4″ strap webbing rated for a working load limit of 4,000 pounds
  • ⅜” high-test chain rated for a working load limit of 5,400 pounds

In general, the working load limit (WLL) must be at least ⅙ of the total weight of the load. For example, a load that weighs under 24,000 pounds could use 4″ strap webbing, as 4,000 pounds is ⅙ of the total weight.

Requirements for Truck Owners and Fleet Managers

Truck owners and trucking company fleet managers must make sure their trucks comply with Georgia’s trucking regulations. Compliance includes regularly inspecting and maintaining vehicles and making sure drivers have a valid CDL, cargo loaders don’t overload trucks, and drivers follow all state and federal regulations.

If trucking companies fail to meet their requirements, they could be liable for resulting injuries. For example, a crash caused by a poorly maintained truck could leave the driver, maintenance company, and trucking company all partially liable for any injuries caused by the crash.

At Parker Trial Law, we investigate every truck crash to determine all liable parties. Generally, the more liable parties there are, the more compensation victims can receive, as insurance policy limits have less of an impact.

Trucking Insurance Coverage Requirements

The insurance requirements for trucking companies are higher than those for regular drivers and depend on whether the truck operates solely within Georgia or interstate. Georgia’s minimum trucking insurance coverage requirements include:

  • $100,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $300,000 per incident for bodily injury
  • $50,000 per incident for property damage

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has additional minimum trucking insurance coverage requirements for interstate freight. These requirements include:

  • $300,000 per incident for bodily injury and property damage if the truck weighs 10,000 pounds or less and is carrying non-hazardous material
  • $750,000 – $5,000,000 per incident for bodily injury and property damage, depending on the type of freight the truck is carrying

Federal Trucking Regulations

There are various federal trucking regulations that drivers, companies, and cargo loaders must adhere to. However, the most important federal regulations related to truck accidents are the hours of service (HOS) regulations established by the FMCSA. These regulations cover how many hours drivers can work without taking a break. Some of the regulations include:

  • Truckers can drive for a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off-duty
  • Truckers cannot drive beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty after ten consecutive hours off-duty
  • Truckers must take a 30-minute break for every eight cumulative hours driven
  • Truckers may not drive for more than 60/70 hours in 7/8 consecutive days without 34 or more consecutive hours off

It’s essential for truck drivers to follow these federal hours of service regulations because a fatigued driver is more likely to cause a crash than a well-rested one. The attorneys of Parker Trial Law will review the truck driver’s logbook to see if they exceeded the HOS regulations. If they did, that could be vital evidence in proving the driver’s liability for your injuries.