The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sets forth regulations that trucking companies are required to follow. These cover equipment and "hours of service" rules, which prohibit truck drivers from driving more than 11 consecutive hours or after 14 hours on duty without a 10-hour break. Drivers who accrue 60 work hours during a 7-day period or 70 work hours during an 8-day period cannot continue to drive. Truck drivers must keep a driver's log.

Federal regulations require commercial trucks to be insured at appropriate levels, which are dependent on the materials they're hauling. These regulations were put in place to protect accident victims from truck owners who may not have the monetary resources to pay for damages out of their own pockets.