A fuel tanker hauling almost 9,000 gallons of gasoline overturned, spilled and burned on the eastbound 91 freeway in Corona, California on the Friday morning before Memorial Day weekend.  The blast sent 3 people to a local hospital for minor injuries, but the driver was uninjured and no one was killed.

The 91 freeway is one of Southern California’s most congested and populated freeways, serving as the only major road from Riverside to Orange County.  According to the California Highway Patrol, over 300,000 trips are made on the 91 in this area daily.  Lanes were closed for roughly eight hours while authorities dealt with safety hazards that were present in both east and westbound lanes.

According to a story published in the Los Angeles Times, CHP officers said the crash was the result of a chain reaction accident that started with two cars.  According to officers, the driver who was hauling the fuel tanker took evasive action to avoid further collision, but lightly struck another vehicle and overturned, causing an explosion and a large fire after the truck overturned.

According to the Los Angeles Times, witnesses reported that flames reached about 100 feet and smoke could be seen from as far as thirty miles away. Authorities let the fire burn itself out over the course of several hours before clean up crews could even begin working on the scene’s wreckage.

As amazing as it is that this accident occurred relatively injury-free on such a congested freeway, it really demonstrates why California law requires a single limit liability of $1-$5 million woven into the commercial California truck insurance in of fuel tankers hauling compressed gas or other compressed hazardous materials.

Simply hauling the truck remains away and cleaning up the un-burned fuel would cost a tremendous amount of money, much less the damages associated if anyone was seriously injured or killed.

The lesson?  Drive defensively and be extremely mindful of trucks on the road.  One little two-car fender bender may seem insignificant—until it ruins almost a half a million vacationer’s start to their Memorial Day weekend!

Motor carriers operating motor vehicles transporting hazardous materials, hazardous substances or hazardous wastes. For-hire motor carriers operating motor vehicles transporting property in interstate or foreign commerce. For-Hire motor carriers transporting passengers in interstate or foreign commerce. Private motor carriers domiciled in Mexico transporting property in interstate or foreign commerce.
Financial Responsibility: Having insurance policies or surety bonds sufficient to satisfy the minimum public liability requirements   { Royalty Truck Insurance can provide you with both.  You can receive a quote online http://royaltytruckinsurance.com/?id=truck-insurance-quote or call us at Toll Free: 1-866-989-8998 }
Public Liability:  Public Liability means liability for bodily injury, property damage and environmental restoration.
Environmental Restoration:  Environmental Restoration means restitution for the loss, damage, or destruction of natural resources arising out of an accidental discharge of toxic or other environmentally harmful materials or liquids
Definitions of terms relating to FMCSA financial responsibility regulations can be seen at:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.5.htm
and/or
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.29.htm
Requirements: Motor carriers must have at least the minimum amount of insurance required by law. A list of the minimum requirements can be seen at:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.9.htm
and/or
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.33.htm
Proof:  Proof of financial responsibility shall be maintained at the motor carrier’s principle place of business. All vehicles operating in the U.S. must have a legible copy of the proof of the required financial responsibility.  All motor vehicle in which there is no evidence of financial responsibility shall be denied entry into the U.S.
Examples of Proof:
Form MCS-90
Form MCS-82
Form MCS-90B
Form MCS- 82B
For more information or clarification please call Royalty Truck Insurance 1-866-989-8998

These tips coming from the US Department of Transportation.Reference:   Part 387 Minimum levels of financial responsibility for motor carriers

Overview: The training module is designed to educate the executive staff of motor carrier companies on the FMCSA regulation on the minimum levels of necessary financial responsibility

Purpose:  The purpose of these regulations is to create incentives for motor carriers to maintain and operate their vehicles in a safe manner and to maintain an appropriate level of financial responsibility.

Applicability:

Motor carriers operating motor vehicles transporting hazardous materials, hazardous substances or hazardous wastes. For-hire motor carriers operating motor vehicles transporting property in interstate or foreign commerce. For-Hire motor carriers transporting passengers in interstate or foreign commerce. Private motor carriers domiciled in Mexico transporting property in interstate or foreign commerce.

Financial Responsibility: Having insurance policies or surety bonds sufficient to satisfy the minimum public liability requirements   { Royalty Truck Insurance can provide you with both.  You can receive a quote online http://royaltytruckinsurance.com/?id=truck-insurance-quote or call us at Toll Free: 1-866-989-8998

Public Liability:  Public Liability means liability for bodily injury, property damage and environmental restoration.

Environmental Restoration:  Environmental Restoration means restitution for the loss, damage, or destruction of natural resources arising out of an accidental discharge of toxic or other environmentally harmful materials or liquids

Definitions of terms relating to FMCSA financial responsibility regulations can be seen at:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.5.htm

and/or

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.29.htm

Requirements: Motor carriers must have at least the minimum amount of insurance required by law. A list of the minimum requirements can be seen at:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.9.htm

and/or

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/fmcsr/regs/387.33.htm

Proof:  Proof of financial responsibility shall be maintained at the motor carrier’s principle place of business. All vehicles operating in the U.S. must have a legible copy of the proof of the required financial responsibility.  All motor vehicle in which there is no evidence of financial responsibility shall be denied entry into the U.S.

Examples of Proof:

Form MCS-90

Form MCS-82

Form MCS-90B

Form MCS- 82B

For more information or clarification please call Royalty Truck Insurance 1-866-989-8998