A tractor-trailer is a commercial vehicle consisting of a “tractor,” which is the front part of the semi that houses the engine compartment, cab, and sleeper berth, and a trailer that measures about 53 feet long. The tractor and trailer combination makes for a vehicle that measures around 72 feet in length, 13.5 feet high, and 8.5 feet wide. When fully loaded, a tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, up to 30 times heavier than the average passenger car that shares the roadway with it. The size of the vehicle impacts its maneuverability, presenting issues such as: Significant blind spots on all four sides of the vehicle An increased distance needed to come to a complete stop The need to make wide turns when negotiating sharp corners The higher ground clearance can allow a smaller vehicle to slip beneath the truck during an accident. A high center of gravity can make the vehicle prone to rolling over when negotiating sharp corners or swerving to avoid an accident. Excessive mileage can result in premature wearing of tires, brakes, and other vehicle systems that allow for the vehicle’s safe operation. The Extra Duty of Care Required by Tractor-Trailer Drivers and Trucking Companies Because of the hazards posed by having such large vehicles on the roadway, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the trucking industry. Duty of care refers to the reasonable actions an individual takes in a given circumstance to avoid harming others. While all roadway users have a duty of care, for tractor-trailer drivers and the companies they work for, there is an increased duty of care by way of: The requirement is to obtain a special license to drive the vehicle. This license is known as a CDL. Regular drug and alcohol screenings to avoid having impaired drivers on the roadway behind the wheels of 80,000-pound vehicles A reduced alcohol impairment limit. For most adult drivers over the age of 21 in the U.S., the legal impairment limit for driving is .08 grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood. For CDL holders, the impairment limit is 0.04, equal to the impairment one would experience after consuming around two alcoholic drinks within an hour before driving.