AUTHOR: Shorstein & Lasnetski, LLC TITLE: Insurance requirements for trucking companies DATE: 2/24/2008 11:09:00 AM ----- BODY:
Because of the great potential for injuries and damages that can result from an accident with a tractor trailer, it is important for trucking companies to adequately insure their trucks and the drivers who operate them.  The state of Florida and the Federal government have recognized the importance of this issue.
In order for a trucking company to operate as a company that uses trucks, 18 wheelers, semis or tractor trailers, as they are often called, to transport goods to different states, they must be registered as a business in Florida, if they are based here, and all of them must be registered with the Federal government (with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation).  As part of the registration process, the trucking company must prove that it has a minimum amount of insurance to cover accidents that are caused by their drivers and result in injuries and/or property damage.  For most trucking companies and their drivers, that minimum amount of insurance is $750,000 per accident. Those trucking companies are welcome to insure their tractor trailers and drivers for more than that, but not less.  
Of course, this does not guarantee that there will be sufficient insurance to cover an accident if there are many people injured, or if someone is injured very severely, but what it does mean is if a tractor trailer driver causes or contributes to an accident that results in property damage and/or injuries in Florida or any other state, the injured party should not run into a situation where the other vehicle is not insured at all or has minimal insurance, as can occur with regular auto  accidents.   
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