Operation Safe Driver Set for July 13-19, 2025
As in past years, Operation Safe Driver Week 2025 will focus on one of the most dangerous threats on our roadways: reckless, careless, and dangerous driving behaviors.
Written by Douglas B. Marcello
Shareholder, Trucking and Commercial Transportation
Blown tires and lost treads create liability claims against trucking companies — but there is generally no liability. Smart documentation and maintenance practices can save you thousands in claims.
Hot weather means blown tires and lost treads. Some will hit nearby cars, triggering property damage or injury claims against your company. Claims that you usually don’t owe.
The catch: Most companies don't realize these claims are highly defensible with the right approach.
The legal standard: Negligence must be proven. Did the tire failure result from your company's failure to do something reasonable? Something you or your driver “knew or should have known”?
Document everything:
Key distinction: Make crystal clear in records and photos that this was a "tread off" or "blowout" — not a "wheel off."
Train your team:
Don't automatically pay tire-related claims. With proper documentation and maintenance records, these cases are winnable — even when accidents happen despite your best precautions. It is, most often, not “negligence.”
Review your current tire inspection and documentation procedures. A small investment in better record-keeping can prevent major claim payouts.
[4-minute video on tire and tread defense strategies]
As in past years, Operation Safe Driver Week 2025 will focus on one of the most dangerous threats on our roadways: reckless, careless, and dangerous driving behaviors.
Late last month, FMCSA posted on its website a list of suggestions to use during the driver qualification process to determine how well a CDL driver meets the English proficiency standards.
Excessive heat brings new hazards affecting your vehicle, your tires, and even your vision. Here is how to protect yourself, your rig, and those with whom you share the road.