Collins Transportation Safety & Compliance Services

Tractor-trailer litigation

Semi Truck Expert Witness

W.S. Bill Collins is a semi truck expert witness retained by plaintiff and defense counsel in tractor-trailer and heavy commercial vehicle matters. Over 50 years of class A driving. 28 years as a certified FMCSA instructor teaching the regulations these cases turn on.

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Regulatory analysis of tractor-trailer crashes

A semi truck case is decided by what the records establish about the hours preceding the collision, the driver the carrier put in the seat, and the condition of the unit that day. Bill reconciles electronic logging device data and its edit history against fuel receipts, toll transactions, telematics, dispatch messages, and shipper check-in times. Where those sources contradict the duty status on the log, the contradiction is frequently the finding that carries the case.

The same review extends to the driver qualification file under Part 391, the carrier's safety management controls, prior roadside inspection history, and maintenance records under Part 396. Each element is mapped to the governing regulation so the written opinion states a federal standard rather than an industry impression.

Case types behind most semi truck matters

Fatigue and duty limit issues are addressed in fatigue and Hours of Service cases. Edited or falsified records are addressed in logbook falsification cases. Hiring, training, dispatch pressure, and supervision failures are addressed in carrier liability cases, and file defects in driver qualification cases. The broader overview is on the truck accident expert witness page. For a stage-by-stage look at the engagement itself, see how a trucking expert witness works in a case.

Common questions

What does a semi truck expert witness do?

A semi truck expert witness examines the operational and regulatory record behind a tractor-trailer crash and states what the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations required of the driver and the carrier. The work covers electronic logging device data and edit history, the driver qualification file, dispatch and shipper records, maintenance and inspection history, and the carrier's safety management controls. The opinion identifies the operative section of 49 CFR, states what the records show, and explains the gap in terms a jury can follow.

How is a semi truck case different from a passenger vehicle case?

A tractor-trailer operates under a federal regulatory scheme that does not apply to passenger vehicles. Duty limits under Part 395, qualification standards under Part 391, driving conduct rules under Part 392, and inspection and maintenance obligations under Part 396 all create documented duties, and each generates records. Those records, not eyewitness impressions, usually decide the case.

When should counsel retain a semi truck expert?

As early as possible. Electronic logging device records carry a six-month federal retention floor, and dashcam footage and engine control module data are frequently overwritten within days or weeks. Retaining an expert before the first preservation letter goes out means the letter names the correct systems by name rather than requesting documents generically.

Do you work for plaintiff or defense in semi truck cases?

Both. Bill's conclusions follow the records and the regulation rather than the theory the retaining attorney is advancing. That independence is what makes the written opinion defensible when opposing counsel challenges it.

Discuss a semi truck matter with Bill

Send the complaint, the crash report, and whatever production you have. Bill reviews every inquiry personally and responds Monday through Friday, typically within one business day.

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