On average the typical commercial truck weighs 100,000 pounds, and, as you could assume, this makes the damages from a truck accident disastrous. Chameleon carriers or reincarnated carriers are companies that find loopholes to get around safety regulations, that amplify the chance of an accident happening. The government enforces regulations and safety laws to protect both the truck driver and other drivers on the road, and most freight companies do everything they can to comply.
Chameleon carriers have usually been caught violating regulations or safety laws at least once – if not more. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association (FMCSA) will shut down the companies due to these violations and place a federal out-of-service order on them. The company will react by restarting under a new name and applies for a new USDOT number. They continue to do business the same as before instead of fixing the issues they were originally shut down for. These issues can include faulty equipment/vehicles, legal problems with their employees, or disregard for regulations. The reason chameleon carriers repetitively go unnoticed is because of the influx of applicants that the FMCSA receives. It makes it hard for them to weed out and stop these companies from reforming.
The FMCSA is aware of the issue and is actively taking steps to prevent chameleon companies from reestablishing. These preventions include a new vetting process that highlights attributes relating to chameleon carriers, new policy changes that eliminate out of service vehicles and identifying processes that help find chameleon carriers faster. It is a step in the right direction, but they are having difficulties getting rid of chameleon carriers completely.
To ensure that your claim is completely protected, because of the way these companies operate, if you are in a trucking accident, it is crucial to get as much evidence as you can. Steps you should take are:
• calling 911
• taking photos of all the vehicles involved
• getting full contact information of all witnesses
• identifying the driver and their insurance
• seeking medical attention
• speaking to an attorney before an insurance adjuster
The Pottenger Law Firm has more than 25 years of experience dealing with truck accidents. We know that they are devastating, and you don’t walk away from them unscathed. Make sure your claim is good hands, contact us at 816-531-6006 or send us a message to arrange a free consultation.
