Houston

What to do after a truck accident in Houston

The short answer

After a truck crash in Houston, the crash report comes from the law enforcement agency that responded, as with any collision. What differs is that commercial trucks are also covered by federal and Texas motor-carrier rules, including limits on driving hours and public registration records, summarized below with their sources. InjuryClaimGuide is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

Key facts, as of October 22, 2026

Port Houston operates eight public facilities along the 52-mile Houston Ship Channel, including the Barbours Cut and Bayport container terminals. Source: Port Houston, Our Port
An officer who investigates a collision with an injury, a death, or apparent property damage of $1,000 or more to one person must file a written report with TxDOT within 10 days. Source: Tex. Transp. Code §550.062
For crashes inside the city, the Houston Police Department says its crash reports can be requested by mail from HPD, Records Division, 1200 Travis, Houston, TX 77002, with a $6 check or money order payable to the City of Houston. Source: Houston Police Department, Public Information
Texas generally sets a two-year limitations period for personal-injury lawsuits, counted from the day the cause of action accrues, with exceptions set by statute. Source: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §16.003

Crashes involving commercial trucks and 18-wheelers are often more complex than passenger-vehicle accidents. Multiple parties (the driver, the trucking company, the cargo owner) may share responsibility, and federal trucking regulations can come into play.

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Truck Accidents

How can you look up a trucking company?

FMCSA's Company Snapshot is a public record of a carrier's identification, size, commodity information and safety record, searchable by USDOT number, MC/MX number or company name. Source: FMCSA SAFER, Company Snapshot
Motor carriers that operate intrastate commercial motor vehicles on Texas roads must get a TxDMV number, and TxDMV's Motor Carrier Lookup shows whether a carrier is licensed in Texas. Source: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Motor Carriers

What limits apply to a truck driver's hours?

Under federal rules, a property-carrying truck driver may drive up to 11 hours within a 14-hour period that starts after 10 consecutive hours off duty. Source: 49 C.F.R. §395.3
The same rule requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving, except for some short-haul drivers, and stops driving after 60 hours on duty in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on the carrier's schedule. Source: 49 C.F.R. §395.3

What weight and width limits does Texas set for vehicles on public highways?

Texas law says a vehicle or combination of vehicles may not be operated on a public highway with a single axle weight heavier than 20,000 pounds or a tandem axle weight heavier than 34,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances. Source: Tex. Transp. Code §621.101(a)(1)–(2)
Texas law says the total width of a vehicle operated on a public highway, including its load, may not be greater than 102 inches, not counting safety devices that the U.S. Department of Transportation or the Texas Department of Public Safety determines are necessary; passenger vehicles have a separate limit in the same section. Source: Tex. Transp. Code §621.201(a)–(b)