5 fatalities as a consequence of distracted driving.
In January of this year (2023) one of the Logiflex trucks was involved in an accident that left 5 people dead. Read to learn what happened and the consequences for the drivers and the company.
What happened
The Logiflex driver started early in the morning to deliver 44,000 lb of solar panels. Our truck stopped in traffic because of an earlier accident on the highway.
The MBI driver did not see the stopped traffic because later we learned that he was watching TikTok. He drove at 60 MPH+ into the two cars that stopped behind the Logiflex truck and smashed them into the back of our trailer. The two cars that were between the two trucks had a combined 5 passengers that died.
Our truck was pushed forward and hit two more cars.
This is a horrible event for all parties involved. Although our company is not at fault, we are still involved in such a tragedy.
When there is an accident with fatalities, all involved parties are investigated by the police.
What happens now
The victims's families are devastated. You can imagine.
The MBI's driver will go to Jail. He had been watching TikTok when the accident happened. The police asked for his phone and he tried to delete what he did. The police found out about this and not on top of the 5 homicide charges and 4 counts of endangerment, he is also charged with tampering with physical evidence. His previous work history and experience will not protect him in any way. We don't know how long his sentence will be, but it won't be short.
MBI Company will get sued. Their insurance will be exhausted, but the company will continue. Their attorneys will not be able to help their diver in any way since he broke the company policy.
Logiflex will be asked as a witness for this case. The police already have our company's information. Potentially someone will come after the company, but the case will be most likely dismissed because it is clear whose fault it is. Our insurance will cover the legal cost.
Because our driver did everything right with his ELD, Camera, pre-trip, etc, and did not break any company policies, he will be legally shielded and not personally prosecuted.
What happens in the future
Logiflex will continue enforcing and improving our safety procedures. These procedures are created for the safety of the general public and our drivers and office employees.
Phone use should be limited to phone calls while driving. Sometimes even phone calls can be skipped, if there are difficult road conditions(traffic, weather, etc)
Social Media and any type of phone use outside of phone calls is prohibited while driving a commercial vehicle. (We think that this rule should apply to everyone's personal vehicle as well but we don't have authority there)
The front and back cameras are there so the company protects our drivers. We use them to prove who is at fault when an accident happens. We have many other small accidents where the cameras saved us from claims and prosecution of our drivers.
ELD has to be perfect. That means that every day drivers need to start with a pre-trip inspection and to watch out for the 30-minute break in the middle of their shift.
PC Time is important for drivers. Logiflex understands the flexibility that PC time provides in certain situations, but we can't be abusing it. When there is a real need for it, which is part of the legal FMSCA description of when to use it, we allow it. Using PC time for extending the driving time during the day or the shift is not allowed.
PreTrip is to be made at the start of the driver's shift and annotated on the ELD. That shows the company and DOT that you checked your vehicle and you decided that it is safe to drive.
For public information about the accident follow this link