There are certain rules that everyone must follow when they drive on Alabama’s roads, regardless of the type of vehicle they’re in.

For example, they must abide by the speed limit. They also must come to a complete stop at stop signs, stop at red lights, signal before turning, and turn their lights on at night. But one requirement that can change based on the type of vehicle being driven is the amount of insurance coverage.

In Alabama, drivers must meet the 25/50/25 liability insurance requirement. This requirement says that their policies must pay for at least $25,000 in bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 in property damage coverage per accident.

But certain commercial trucks have much higher requirements depending on their classification and what they’re used for.

Heavy Trucks Have Higher Insurance Requirements

The insurance requirements for trucks over a certain weight are different from lighter trucks. Trucks that operate solely within Alabama but weigh over 10,000 pounds are required to be registered with the USDOT and must be insured for the following amounts:

• Household good trucks–$300,000
• General freight trucks–$750,000
• Oil transport trucks–$1,000,000
• Hazmat trucks–$5,000,000

In addition, intrastate carriers are required to have cargo insurance of $5,000 per vehicle and $5,000 per catastrophe.

Interstate-Based Trucks Also Have Higher Insurance Requirements

Trucks that conduct business across state lines are subject to regulations by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. In addition to being more heavily scrutinized for driver service hours, these trucks also must meet certain insurance requirements:

• Non-hazardous freight moved in trucks under 10,001 pounds–$300,000
• Non-hazardous freight moved in vehicles over 10,001 pounds–$750,000
• Oil moved by for-hire and private carriers–$1,000,000
• Other hazardous material moved by for-hire and private carriers–$5,000,000

Other Types of Insurance May Also Be Required

In addition to these general insurance requirements, other forms of coverage may be required or recommended:

• Bobtail insurance—This insurance kicks in when a driver is operating the cab of a truck without a trailer attached to it.
• Non-trucking liability insurance—This insurance covers accidents that may occur when a driver is involved in an accident in their cab while they’re not working.
• On-hook coverage—This insurance covers vehicles that aren’t owned by or associated with a truck driver or trucking company that are damaged during towing or hauling.
• Trailer interchange agreement insurance—This insurance covers damage to non-owned trailers if something happens to them while they’re being hauled.

After an Accident Involving a Semi-Truck, You Need Experienced Legal Representation

Whether you were involved in a crash with a small local box truck or a big out-of-state semi-truck, it’s important to get in touch with an experienced legal team. Different types of trucks have different levels of insurance coverage, and that can affect the progression of your claim and even how likely you are to get compensation.

The more severe your injuries and the greater the amount of money the truck is insured for, the more pushback you may face from the insurance company. At The Vance Law Firm, we know the tactics that insurance companies use to pay victims as little as possible after crashes that weren’t their fault. Let us help you get the money you’re owed—contact our Montgomery truck accident lawyers today.