Tractor Trailer Timeline
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1896
The first motor truck, complete with a four-horsepower engine and belt drive, is built by German automotive pioneer Gottlieb Daimler.
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1900
Brothers John, Augustus and William Mack open the first U.S. truck manufacturing plant and build a 40-horsepower, 20-passenger bus used for sightseeing tours.
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1902
Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, the forerunner of GMC, builds its first motorized truck, the "Rapid," with a top speed of 10 mph.
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1911
A truck built by the Saurer Motor Truck Company makes the first coast-to-coast trip.
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1912
The first electric lights are installed on trucks; electric starters are also introduced.
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1913
Several states introduce weight limits for trucks, ranging from 18,000 pounds in Maine to 28,000 pounds in Massachusetts.
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1914
There are now 100,000 trucks on U.S. roads.
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1920
The number of trucks on U.S. roads hits the 1,000,000 mark.
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1920s
Several significant equipment advances are made, including standard use of pneumatic tires and shock-proof glass in windshields.
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1933
Kenworth becomes the first American truck company to install diesel engines as standard equipment.
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1935
Congress passes the Motor Carrier Act, giving the Interstate Commerce Commission authority to regulate the trucking industry.
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1938
Congress enacts the first hours of service regulations, limiting the amount of time that truck drivers can spend behind the wheel.
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1942
Kenworth joins the war effort with production of a four-ton, heavy-duty truck known as the M-1 "Wrecker," which features cranes, winches, welding equipment and floodlights.
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1956
The Federal Aid Highway Act authorizes the Interstate Highway system, allowing large trucks to travel at higher speeds through rural and urban areas.
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1956
The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 authorizes the first federal maximum gross vehicle weight limits for trucks -- 73,208 pounds.
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1966
Congress creates the Department of Transportation, placing the agency in charge of highway safety issues.
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1970
American roads and highways now carry 18 million trucks.
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1974
Federal-Aid Highway Act amendments establish a federal maximum gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds.
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1976
"Convoy," a novelty song about a convoy of truck drivers, hits No. 1 on the Billboard chart.
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1980
The Motor Carrier Act deregulates the trucking industry, leading to a sharp increase in the number of trucking companies.
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1982
For the first time, uniform weight and length laws are established for trucks across the United States; previously, states could set their own standards.
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1999
As the 20th Century draws to a close, the United States has 46,564 miles of Interstate Highways.
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2000
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is set up to prevent deaths and injuries related to commercial motor vehicles.
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2006
There are now 26 million trucks on U.S. roads, hauling nearly 70 percent of the total volume of freight.
Marks & Harrison is committed to helping individuals
and families who have been injured in accidents involving
trucks and
tractor trailers. We routinely represent clients in
Richmond and
throughout the state of Virginia, and place our clients’
interests above all else. We vow, within the bounds of
honesty, fairness and ethics, to use all of our strengths and
resources to achieve a just result in all that we undertake.
By their very nature, accidents involving passenger
vehicles and tractor trailers may result in serious injuries.
Nationwide, there are an estimated 500,000 tractor trailer
accidents each year. In 2002, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration (FMCSA) reported 130,000 injuries and nearly
5,000 deaths related to large truck accidents. One in every
eight traffic fatalities is attributed to collisions with
tractor trailers, also known as 18-wheelers. When the average
passenger vehicle weighing 3,596 pounds confronts a commercial
tractor trailer weighing as much as 80,000 pounds, the outcome
is inevitable. The truck driver usually escapes with minor
injuries while the occupants of the passenger vehicle are
seldom as lucky – they may be seriously injured or die.
The three main reasons why
truck accidents are so dangerous
are size, speed and driver fatigue. These are heavy, large
pieces of machinery that routinely travel at speeds topping
60-70 miles per hour. Driver fatigue continues to be a growing
problem. Truck drivers are under constant pressure to move
cargo -- so much so, that 16-hour days are not uncommon. A
recent study revealed that 20 percent of long-haul truck
drivers reported they had fallen asleep at the wheel during
the last 30-day period. It’s no wonder that people are
killed when one in five drivers admits to falling asleep,
leaving these giants with no one at the wheel. Other causes of
tractor trailer accidents:
- Negligence
- Tire blowouts
- Improper loading
- Sudden braking
- Drug and alcohol use
VA Truck Accident Headlines
Neck and back injuries, quadriplegia, paraplegia, loss of
limb, and brain injuries
(TBI) are only some of the serious injuries
commonly associated with tractor trailer and passenger vehicle
accidents. Insurance companies begin investigating the cause
of accidents almost immediately after the accident occurs.
They promptly hire investigators and experts in an effort to
limit their liability. When Marks & Harrison truck
accident attorneys are
hired quickly, we can give you the same advantage the
insurance company gives itself.
While insurance is designed to cover some costs, it cannot
address all the economic damage that a vehicle related
accident may cause. Sometimes in truck collisions the
insurance company will deny a claim to protect the driving
record of the truck driver. Truckers must follow specific
state and federal regulations. It is important to retain a law
firm that understands these regulations. Whether it’s your
insurance company or the guilty party’s, insurance is a
business whose goal is to minimize costs.
If you have been injured in an accident involving a tractor
trailer and need a skilled trucking accident lawyer, please
contact the Richmond truck accident
lawyers of Marks & Harrison. We look forward to meeting you
and discussing you claim. Your initial consultation with us is
free and confidential. Our lawyers will analyze your case and
advise whether you are entitled to compensation. If we don't
think you need an attorney, we will tell you right away.
At Marks & Harrison, we maintain the highest standards of
integrity, honesty, professionalism and competence. Contact us
today by calling toll free at 1-800-283-2202. Our phones are
answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also submit a
Case
Evaluation.To review
the experience of our tractor trailer accident attorneys, please see:
Recent Significant Results
Firm News & Press
For more information on personal injury cases in Virginia,
please review:
Personal Injury
Personal Injury Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
Personal Injury Legal
Glossary
Traumatic Brain Injury
(TBI)
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