House Passes Legislation Encouraging Equality and Fairness in the Ohio Trucking Industry Related to Insurance Claims

State Representative Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) today applauded the Ohio House passage of House Bill 71, legislation that updates, and ensures fairness, in the revised code pertaining to the issue of indemnification in contracts between shippers and motor carriers.

This bill promotes fairness by ensuring that motor carriers are not held liable for harm caused by activities of the other contracting party. Following legislative action by 41 other states that have enacted “anti-indemnification” statutes, House Bill 71 would prohibit the shipper’s ability to claim indemnification in cases where the damage resulted from negligence on the part of the shipper.

By holding the trucking company harmless if they were not responsible for the incident, they would be relieved of costs associated with the injury. This could also reduce the cost of insurance for motor carriers, allowing these companies to have the extra capital to hire Ohio workers and grow their business.

“H.B. 71 strengthens our free markets by ensuring that companies are held accountable for their own actions and cannot unfairly shift what should be their responsibility onto another,” said Rep. Roegner, who sponsored the legislation.

The bill received support from various transportation services and the Professional Independent Agents Association of Ohio. It passed the House with bipartisan support and will now head to the Senate for further consideration.

Rep. Roegner represents the 37th Ohio House District, which includes portions of northeastern Summit County.