From oil hauls in the Bakken to grain loads rolling east on Highway 2, commercial trucks are part of daily life in North Dakota. With agriculture, energy, and freight all relying on heavy transport, it’s no surprise these vehicles are a constant on our rural roads and interstates.
In most cases, these massive vehicles co-exist peacefully with smaller vehicles they share the roadways with, but on the rare occasion when something goes wrong, it can often be deadly. In 2023, roughly 4% of the state’s 106 traffic fatalities involved trucks and tractors, according to the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s 2023 Crash Summary Report. As any North Dakota commercial truck accident attorney can tell you, the size and weight of these trucks mean that even a small mistake can lead to devastating results.
Figuring out what caused the crash, whether it’s fatigue, speed, bad maintenance, or a loading issue, is key to being compensated for injuries and property damage after an accident. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones.
1. Driver Fatigue
Long hauls across the state can leave even experienced drivers exhausted, which is why federal law limits how many hours they can drive without rest. But in reality, tight schedules often mean drivers skip breaks or push past safe limits, even though the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) restricts the number of hours truckers can drive without rest. These Hours-of-Service rules are meant to reduce fatigue-related crashes. Still, tight deadlines and demanding routes lead some drivers and companies to push these limits.
Signs that fatigue played a role in a crash may include late-night timing, no attempt to brake, or the driver admitting to skipping rest.
2. Distracted Driving in the Cab
It only takes a few seconds. A phone buzzes. The driver glances down. Meanwhile, their rig is moving 60 mph and takes the length of a football field to stop.
Common distractions include phones, dispatch devices, food wrappers, or even reaching for gear. It’s why both state and federal law ban handheld device use for commercial drivers and why distracted driving is one of the top contributors to fatal truck crashes.
Distractions may include:
- Cell phone use, including texting or dialing
- GPS units or dispatch communication devices
- Eating, drinking, or reaching for objects in the cab
In response, North Dakota law and FMCSA regulations restrict handheld device use for commercial drivers. The Highway Patrol and public safety campaigns regularly highlight distracted driving dangers.
3. Speeding and Reckless Behavior
Speed and weight are a dangerous combination. Commercial trucks already need more distance to stop than smaller vehicles–about the length of a football field under normal conditions. Adding speeding or aggressive driving, such as unsafe lane changes, tailgating, or disregarding road conditions, significantly increases the risk. While North Dakota speed limits for commercial vehicles are set by law at a level designed to balance safety and commercial needs, some highways allow higher speeds, and sometimes drivers ignore those limits.
4. Vehicle Failures Caused by Poor Maintenance
Not every accident is caused by bad driving. Sometimes, the truck itself is the problem.
Brakes that should’ve been replaced. Tires run bald. A steering issue no one caught—or bothered to fix. These aren’t rare mistakes. FMCSA numbers show that about 10% of truck accidents involve equipment failure.
North Dakota law says trucks have to be kept in working order. But when a company skips inspections or pushes a truck too long without repairs, that’s a problem. And if that leads to a crash, responsibility doesn’t always stop with the driver. Maintenance crews, trucking companies, even parts manufacturers can all be on the hook.
5. Improper Loading and Weight Violations
Ask any truck driver—if the load’s not right, the truck won’t run right. Every rig has a legal weight limit for a reason. When a trailer’s overloaded or packed unevenly, it throws off the balance, especially when you’re cornering, braking hard, or running in bad weather.
That’s when you see rollovers, jackknifes, or loads shifting so hard they pull the whole trailer off track. It doesn’t take much. One missed strap or a poorly centered pallet can turn a normal stop into a serious crash.
And here’s the kicker—it’s not always on the driver. Sometimes the freight crew or the shipper loads it wrong, and you don’t know until it’s too late. That’s why FMCSA rules and North Dakota law (ND Century Code § 39-12) lay out strict cargo securement standards. When someone cuts corners and a crash happens, they can be held liable for what went down.
What You Should Know If You’ve Been in a Commercial Truck Accident
After a serious truck crash, the first thing most people want to know is: Who’s responsible—and what now? The truth is, it depends. Sometimes it’s the driver. Sometimes it’s the company that owns the truck, or even the folks who loaded the trailer.
North Dakota gives you six years to file a claim, but don’t wait that long to get answers. The sooner you gather records, photos, witness names—anything that shows what happened—the stronger your case will be. An experienced attorney can help you sort it out and go after the parties that cut corners.
When to Contact a North Dakota Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accident cases aren’t easy, especially when you’re going up against big companies with their own legal teams. If you were hurt in a crash anywhere in North Dakota, don’t try to handle it alone. At Pringle & Herigstad, we’ve stood up for folks from Williston to Minot to Grand Forks. If you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen. Call us for a free consultation.