AVERY & AVERY
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Vol. L · No. I FOL. LArticles

Avery & Avery, Esqs. Ridgefield, NJ Robert W. Avery, Esq.

What Is a 'No-Zone' in Truck Accident Cases?

RW·A

By Robert W. Avery, Esq.

Founding Partner · Former Mun. Ct. Judge

By Robert W. Avery, Esq.

A “no-zone” is the trucking industry’s term for the four large blind spots around a commercial motor vehicle (CMV). The term was popularized by the FMCSA’s “No Zone” safety campaign and is now standard vocabulary in NJ truck-accident litigation. The four no-zones are real, they create predictable accident patterns, and they shape liability analysis. This post walks through what every NJ driver and accident victim should know.

Truck-accident terminology and liability walkthrough. Not legal advice. Free consultation: (201) 943-2445.

The Four No-Zones

A typical 18-wheel tractor-trailer has four areas where the truck driver’s vision is impaired or absent:

1. Front No-Zone

The first 20 feet directly in front of the truck cab. The driver sits high; small vehicles within 20 feet are below the line of sight. Following too closely on the front side is a fatal error.

2. Rear No-Zone

The first 30 feet behind the trailer. The truck has no rear-view mirror; the driver sees only side mirrors. Vehicles tucked closely behind a trailer are invisible.

3. Right Side No-Zone

The right side of the truck has the largest blind spot — extending from the cab door across two right-side lanes. Passing a truck on the right is the most dangerous maneuver.

4. Left Side No-Zone

The left side has a smaller blind spot extending behind the cab door across one left-side lane. Less dangerous than the right but real.

Liability Implications

Understanding no-zones drives liability analysis in NJ truck accidents:

When the Truck Driver Is at Fault

  • Lane-change without checking mirrors / signal
  • Right turn without yielding to vehicles in the right no-zone
  • Following too closely (when truck is the rear vehicle)
  • Wide turn that swings into adjacent lanes

When the Other Driver Is at Fault

  • Passing a truck on the right (entering the largest no-zone)
  • Following too closely behind a trailer
  • Cutting in front of a truck within the front no-zone
  • Lingering in a side no-zone

NJ applies modified comparative fault — both parties’ contribution is allocated. Liability is rarely 100/0 in truck cases.

Federal Regulation Context

The FMCSA regulates commercial trucking under 49 C.F.R. Parts 350-399. Relevant provisions:

  • Hours-of-Service rules under 49 C.F.R. § 395 — limits on driving time, mandatory rest periods
  • Pre-trip inspection under § 392.7
  • Logbook / ELD requirements under § 395.8 (electronic logging device)
  • CDL standards under Part 383

Violations of FMCSA rules support negligence-per-se claims.

NJ-Specific Truck-Accident Considerations

  • NJ Turnpike corridor produces the bulk of NJ truck-accident litigation — Routes 1 / 9, 78, 80, 280
  • Port Newark / Elizabeth drayage drivers — high-volume short-haul trucking with specific operational patterns
  • Hazmat carrier exposure with elevated regulatory scrutiny

Defense Workflow on a No-Zone Case

Plaintiff-side workflow:

  1. Preservation letter to the trucking company within days — to preserve ELD data, dashcam, dispatch records, hours-of- service logs
  2. FMCSA file FOIA for the carrier’s CSA score and inspection history
  3. Reconstruction expert with no-zone-position analysis
  4. Driver-deposition preparation — focused on no-zone awareness and the driver’s actual position-of-knowledge
  5. Expert witness on driver-training, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dashcams required on commercial trucks?

Not federally required. Many carriers voluntarily install. The preservation letter requests any installed dashcam recordings.

How long does the carrier preserve ELD data?

Federally required retention is 6 months for most categories. Preservation letter at the earliest practicable point matters.

Can I sue the trucking company AND the driver?

Yes. N.J.S.A. 2A:15-5.3 apportionment governs the joint-and- several allocation. Trucking-company liability operates through respondeat superior plus possible direct-negligence theories (negligent hiring, training, supervision).

What’s the statute of limitations on truck-accident claims?

Two years under N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2 for personal-injury claims.

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