Even with powerful tools, like AI-powered dash cams and log books, legal services for truckers are an underutilized tool in the trucking industry. From covering lost wages to taking care of moving violations, a legal services team can keep your truckers safe, whether that’s in terms of their licenses or their livelihoods.
Quicklook: Best Legal Services For Truckers
- Best For Small Trucking Companies: Truckers Voice in Court (TVC)
- Best For CDL, LTL, and Professional Drivers: CDL Defender by US Legal
- Best For Nationwide Coverage: American-Truckers’ Legal Association Inc (ALTA)
- Best For Company Drivers: Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien
- Best For Owner-Operators: CDL Legal
5 Best Trucker Legal Services
Whether you’re liable or not, these five legal services for truckers can keep you safe on the road.
Truckers Voice in Court (TVC)
Protecting almost one million professional drivers, Truckers Voice in Court has been in operation for over 30 years. With the most comprehensive coverage and legal protections available, TVC has successfully fought CDL tickets. Its CDL Advisor and Consultant team has helped companies train their drivers to avoid costly traffic-related issues for over 17 years.
Best For: Small Trucking Companies
Location: 1931 NW Military Hwy, Ste 237-P, San Antonio, TX 78213
Better Business Bureau Rating: A+
Specialties:
- Independent Contractor
- Truck Route
- Speeding Tickets
- Overweight Fines
- Logbook
- Equipment Violations
- Following Too Closely
- Careless Driving
- Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device
- Lane Violations
Benefits:
- Free Ticket Estimate Tool
- CDL Advisor and Consultant Service
- Local Traffic Attorney
Disadvantages:
- Mainly Focuses on Traffic Violations
- Pricing Not Transparent
- Access Available Only During Standard Business Hours
Pricing: Reach out for a quote.
CDL Defender by U.S. Legal Services
U.S. Legal Services’ CDL Defender department handles legal issues for professional drivers of all types, other than full load. Backed by the full power of U.S. Legal Services, CDL Defender has been in business for nearly 50 years. Offering protection for drivers and companies alike, CDL Defender’s plans can cost as low as $1 per day.
Best For:
- CDL
- LTL
- Professional Drivers
Location: 8133 Baymeadows Way, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Better Business Bureau Rating: A+
Specialties:
- Unsafe Driving
- Fatigued Driving
- Driver Fitness
- Controlled Substances or Alcohol
- Vehicle Maintenance
- Cargo-Related
- Crash Indicator
Benefits:
- CSA Score Help
- Custom Tool to Track Driving Violations
- DataQ Challenges
- Consultation Services
- Identity Theft Protection
- Coverage for Spouse in Both Commercial and Personal Vehicles
- Financial Coaching
- Discounted Legal Services For Personal Matters
- Unlimited Attorney Hours on Covered Services
Disadvantages:
- No Transparent Pricing
Pricing: Reach out for a quote.
American-Truckers’ Legal Association Inc (ATLA)
Offering discounted assistance nationwide from CDL lawyers all across North America, American-Truckers’ Legal Association was founded in 1987. With flat fees for almost all of its services and memberships, ATLA has a 90% win rate in cases that go to court. On top of its track records, ATLA hasn’t raised its rates in over 20 years. With a staff made up of previous truckers and people from trucking families, ATLA understands what truckers need to keep on trucking.
Best For: Nationwide Coverage
Location: 10107 South Tacoma Way Ste A4, Lakewood, WA 98499
Better Business Bureau Rating: A+
Specialties:
- CDL Suspensions
- Truck Accident Tickets
- CDL Speeding Violations
- DAC or CSA Problems
- Logbooks
- Over-Weights
- Wrong Lane
- By-Pass Scale
- Off the Route
- Traffic Tickets
- Property Damage
- Insurance Problems
Benefits:
- 24/7 Legal Services for Truckers
- Services All of the U.S. and Canada
- Flat Fees
- Electronic Payment System
Disadvantages:
- Unclear Pricing Structure
- More Expensive
Pricing:
- $45 One-Time Enrollment Fee
- $48.50 Per Month
Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien
Focusing on workers’ rights, Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien has over 40 years of experience dealing with worker’s compensation, loss of property and personal injury cases. The company also specializes in handling the wrongful termination of truckers who may be deemed whistleblowers in terms of OSHA violations or other unsafe work conditions.
Best For: Injury and Workers Rights
Location: 1105 E 32nd St, Ste 5, Joplin, MO 64804
Better Business Bureau Rating: A+
Specialties:
- Personal Injury
- Worker’s Compensation
- Wrongful Death
- Medical Malpractice
- Criminal and Traffic
- Insurance
- Property Damage
Benefits:
- No Attorney Fees Unless Case is Won
- Online Claim Submission
- Uses LawPay System
Disadvantages:
- Mainly Services Missouri and Illinois-Based Truckers
Pricing: Reach out for a quote.
CDL Legal
Founded in 2018 by a lawyer who was not only the owner of a trucking company but also specializes in legal services for truckers, CDL Legal understands trucking inside and out. Fighting for the rights of small business truckers and drivers, CDL Legal is a member of OOIDA, which works towards the fair regulation and compliance of the transportation industry.
Best For: Owner-Operators
Location: 1 Ooida Dr, Grain Valley, MO 64029-7903
Better Business Bureau Rating: A+
Specialties:
- Moving Violations
- Inspector Report Challenges
- Accidents Leading to Fatality
- Spouse and Personal Vehicle
Benefits:
- Access to Nationwide Attorney Network
- $0 to $150 Deductible
- DataQ Challenges
- Roadside Assistance Network
- CSA Tracking
- 24/7 Legal Services For Truckers
- Weekly Citation Reports
- MVR Monitoring
- Discount With OOIDA
- Nationwide Attorney Network
Pricing:
- Low: $19.99 Per Month
- High: $38.99 Per Month
What Are Legal Services For Truckers?
Though any competent law firm can handle a range of cases, legal services for truckers are provided by people who specifically understand compliance laws, regulatory rules and roadway-specific ordinances for those who work in the trucking industry.
Benefits of a Legal Service Firm
A legal services firm for truckers should be able to handle all transportation-related legal work, such as the following:
- Moving Violations
- DOT And Non-Moving Violations
- License Reinstatement
- OSHA Violation Injuries
- Property Loss or Damage
- Collection Assistance
- Personal Injury
What To Look For With Legal Service Firms
There are a few things to look for when you are in search of the right legal services firm for your trucking company. From prices to compliance tools and everything in between, here are some of the things you should look for.
Retainer Fees or Pricing
Before you sign any contracts, you should know how much the services will cost you. Clear and concise pricing for all of the agreed-upon terms should be displayed in writing before anything is made official.
Make sure the services you need are included within your retainer as well. That way, you won’t need to pay overages for work that is unrelated to what you need.
Legal Services Provided
Not every legal service firm specializes in the same matters. That’s why it is important to hire a legal team that specializes in all things trucking.
For instance, if you are an owner-operator and you have a contract dispute, you don’t want a lawyer who specializes in wrongful termination. Making sure the lawyer or the legal services firm that you hire fits your needs before you hire them is important.
Point of Contact
All law firms have their own phone numbers, but without a specific point of contact, you won’t have anyone whom you can personally reach out to regarding time-sensitive issues. Just like your insurance company, your legal services firm should have a point of contact for you to reach at all times.
Educational Tools
Modern legal services firms for truckers should come with educational tools that can help you stay in compliance. Many trucking firms also have company-specific tools that can inform you about driving infractions and patterns that are unnecessarily costing you even more money.
Don’t Set Yourself Up For Legal Stress
The world of trucking is already a winding road. Adding lawyers to the mix can feel overwhelming, but it’s more of a wise protective measure than something you will have to worry about on a daily basis.
For instance, legal services for truckers can help you know what your next steps are if you lose property, freight or your job. When looking for the best legal services firm, just make sure the ones you are considering practice in the area you work, and you’ll feel comfortable knowing you have a lawyer on your side in the event that you need their help.
