Unlike commercial auto insurance—which covers a wide range of vehicles used for business purposes—commercial truck insurance applies to large commercial vehicles used in construction, road maintenance, sanitation, transport of goods, and agriculture—such as semi-trucks, tractor trailers, tow trucks, car carriers or rollbacks, flatbed trucks, dump trucks, bucket trucks, garbage trucks, box trucks, front loaders, street sweepers, refrigerated trucks, and cement mixers.

These vehicles may be owned by:

• Motor carriers—for-hire trucking companies that own a fleet of vehicles;

• Owner-operators—individuals who operate their own trucking business, whether the vehicle is owned by the operator or leased by the operator;

• Private carriers—individuals who use their personal vehicle to transport goods on behalf of their employer.

For example, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) requires commercial truck drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance. See the United States Code of Federal Regulations at 49 CFR §387. Minimum liability coverages vary depending on the amount and type of freight being transported—including, for example, whether the freight is hazardous material or explosives, non-hazardous freight, or oil.

In Washington State, commercial truck insurance is a specialized form of insurance tailored to cover large commercial vehicles used in various industries such as construction, road maintenance, sanitation, and transport of goods. This insurance is essential for motor carriers, owner-operators, and private carriers to protect against liabilities and damages associated with their operations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) mandates that commercial truck drivers carry a minimum amount of insurance, which is outlined in 49 CFR §387 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. The required minimum liability coverage depends on the type and amount of freight being transported, with different requirements for hazardous materials, explosives, non-hazardous freight, or oil. Washington State may have additional regulations and insurance requirements for commercial trucks that operate within the state, and it is important for those in the trucking industry to ensure they are in compliance with both federal and state regulations.