House Bill Pushes $5M Insurance Minimum for Trucking Carriers

Key Details The Fair Compensation for Truck Crash Victims Act would raise the federal insurance requirement for interstate motor carriers from $750,000 to $5 million. This marks the first significant increase since Congress set the original minimum in 1980 during trucking deregulation. Why It Matters Medical costs have skyrocketed over the past 44 years, but carrier insurance requirements haven't kept pace. Trucks have also grown larger and heavier, contributing to more frequent and fatal crashes. Current minimums often leave crash victims and their families facing devastating financial burdens. The Case for Change Representatives Jesus Garcia (Illinois) and Derek Tran (California) introduced the bill with support from safety advocates. Kate Brown, whose son was severely injured in a 2005 truck crash, shared that even with the carrier's $750,000 policy, her family faced overwhelming medical costs. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration confirmed in its latest report that current minimums create a significant gap between coverage and actual crash expenses. What's Next Congress has been studying this issue since 2012 when it required the Department of Transportation to report every four years on insurance adequacy. This bill represents a growing push to align insurance requirements with modern crash realities and ensure fair compensation for victims.