Trucking Insurance Regulations

by Steve Turner

Trucking insurance offers financial and legal security to commercial truck drivers. Safety is always a concern, and drivers should make certain that they are following all federal and state hazmat regulations if they carry hazardous materials. If these regulations are not followed large fines and penalties will be given along with the possibility of being banned from working with commercial transports.

Other drivers on the road can tell which trucks are carrying hazardous materials by the signs they are required to have by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Drivers carrying hazardous materials should ensure that they also follow all state and local regulations.

All of the proper authorities need to be informed when an accident incurs with a truck carrying hazardous materials. Your insurance provider should be contacted, but they are not the first one that you need to call in such an event. Within 12 hours of the accident and after contacting emergency services you should contact the Department of Transportation (DOT) National Response Center (NRC).

These agencies require being informed of many different circumstances. A couple of these circumstances are the death of an individual, injuries causing hospitalization, public evacuation lasting longer than one hour, or blockage to a major transportation route lasting longer than one hour.

You will be asked to disclose the name, address, and contact information of the reporter as well as any injuries that were sustained. These agencies will also need to know the type and amount of hazardous materials that were involved.

DOT Form F 5800 is the second report that will need to be filed. It must be submitted within 30 days for the above circumstances. Following are a couple more circumstances that require the submission of this form.

- Accidental release of hazardous materials or waste. – Undisclosed hazardous materials discovered. – A cargo tank that carries more than 1,000 gallons of hazardous material has structural damage to the lading retention system.

Make certain that you have the proper amount and type of trucking insurance coverage needed for transporting hazardous materials. Become informed about any requirements of being involved in this type of cargo and what steps need to be followed in an accident.

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