Is a trucking company responsible if a third-party loading crew overloaded the trailer?

Potentially, yes, but liability can extend beyond the trucking company itself. Overloading and improper weight distribution are common causes of rollovers, jackknife crashes, and brake failures. Responsible parties may include:

• The trucking company, if it knew or should have known about the overload
• The shipper or loading company, if they packed or loaded the trailer improperly
• The driver, if they failed to inspect the load before departure, which federal regulations require
• A separate logistics or freight broker, depending on contractual responsibilities

FMCSA regulations place safety obligations on multiple parties in the supply chain, not just the driver behind the wheel. Determining who specifically caused the overload situation requires reviewing bills of lading, loading records, and weigh station data.