Overloaded and Improperly Loaded Truck Accidents in Texas

Cargo loading might seem like a mundane aspect of the trucking industry, but when it is done wrong, the consequences can be deadly. An overloaded 18-wheeler takes significantly longer to stop, is harder to steer, and places excessive stress on brakes, tires, and suspension systems that were not designed to handle the extra weight. Improperly secured cargo can shift suddenly during transit, causing the truck to roll over or the driver to lose control. Cargo that falls from a truck creates lethal obstacles for following traffic. Every year in Texas, truck accidents caused by overloading and improper cargo securement result in catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths that should never have happened. The truck accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw have handled cases where negligent cargo practices caused devastating crashes, and they know how to trace liability back to every party responsible for loading, securing, and transporting the cargo. Truck accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw fight to hold these negligent parties accountable.

Federal and state regulations set strict limits on how much weight a commercial truck can carry and how that cargo must be secured. These rules exist because the physics of moving heavy loads at highway speeds creates enormous risks when something goes wrong. The Houston truck accident attorneys at Carabin Shaw understand these regulations in detail and use violations as powerful evidence of negligence. Truck accident lawyers who handle cargo-related crash cases know that the responsibility for safe loading extends beyond just the truck driver to include the shipper, the loading crew, the freight broker, and the trucking company itself.

When a trucking or commercial vehicle accident is caused by a cargo issue, the investigation must move quickly. Evidence of overloading or improper securement can be lost as the crash scene is cleared and the cargo is dispersed. Truck accident lawyers and attorneys who take on these cases immediately secure the evidence needed to prove what went wrong and who is responsible.

Federal Weight Limits for Commercial Trucks

The Federal Bridge Formula and federal weight regulations set the maximum gross vehicle weight for commercial trucks at 80,000 pounds, including the weight of the truck, trailer, and cargo combined. Individual axle weight limits also apply, with single axles limited to 20,000 pounds and tandem axles limited to 34,000 pounds. States, including Texas, may issue permits for oversize and overweight loads, but these permits come with specific routing, speed, and safety requirements.

Trucks that exceed these weight limits are operating illegally and pose a dramatically increased risk to every other vehicle on the road. An overweight truck traveling at highway speed carries far more kinetic energy than a legally loaded truck, which means the force of impact in a collision is significantly greater. Stopping distances increase substantially, sometimes by hundreds of feet, making rear-end collisions and intersection crashes far more likely.

How Improper Loading Causes Accidents

Even when a truck is within legal weight limits, the way cargo is loaded and secured matters enormously. Cargo that is unevenly distributed can raise the truck’s center of gravity, making it unstable during turns, lane changes, and evasive maneuvers. A high or unbalanced center of gravity is one of the leading causes of truck rollovers.

Cargo that is not properly tied down or braced can shift during transit. A sudden shift of several thousand pounds of cargo to one side of the trailer can cause the driver to lose control instantly. Flatbed trucks carrying construction materials, heavy equipment, or industrial supplies are particularly vulnerable to cargo shift accidents when tie-downs are inadequate or improperly placed.

Loose cargo that falls from a truck creates immediate hazards for following vehicles. Items like lumber, steel, pipes, tires, and equipment falling onto a highway at speed can cause multi-vehicle pileups with devastating consequences. The responsible parties include not only the truck driver but also whoever loaded and secured the cargo.

Federal Cargo Securement Standards

The FMCSA has established detailed cargo securement standards under 49 CFR Part 393. These regulations specify the minimum number and strength of tie-downs required based on the weight and dimensions of the cargo, the type of cargo and its specific securement requirements, approved methods for securing different categories of cargo, and driver responsibilities for inspecting the load during transit.

Drivers are required to inspect their cargo and securement devices within the first 50 miles of driving and at regular intervals thereafter. However, many drivers are not trained in proper load inspection techniques, and the pressure to maintain schedules often leads to cursory or skipped inspections.

Identifying Liable Parties

Cargo-related truck accidents frequently involve multiple liable parties. The shipper may be liable for providing inaccurate weight information, failing to properly package materials, or loading cargo in a way that creates instability. The loading crew, whether employed by the shipper or a third-party logistics provider, may be liable for improper placement or inadequate securement. The trucking company bears responsibility for ensuring its drivers are trained in cargo inspection, for maintaining adequate securement equipment, and for refusing to transport loads that are clearly unsafe. The truck driver has a duty to inspect the load and refuse to transport cargo that is overweight or improperly secured.

Each of these parties may carry separate insurance coverage, which increases the total pool of compensation available to the victim. Identifying and pursuing claims against all responsible parties is one of the most important functions of an experienced truck accident lawyer.

Evidence in Overloading Cases

Proving that a truck was overloaded or improperly loaded requires specific evidence that must be gathered quickly. Weigh station records, bills of lading, shipping manifests, and loading dock documentation can all establish the weight and configuration of the cargo at the time of the accident. Photographs and video from the crash scene showing the position of cargo, the condition of tie-downs, and any cargo that spilled can provide visual evidence of securement failures.

Post-crash vehicle inspections can reveal mechanical failures caused by overloading, including brake component damage, tire failures, and suspension system breakdowns. Expert analysis of the crash dynamics can demonstrate how cargo weight or shift contributed to the driver’s loss of control.

The truck accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw move fast to preserve this critical evidence. If you have been injured in a truck accident caused by overloading or improper cargo securement, contact Carabin Shaw today for a free consultation and let them build the strongest possible case for your recovery.