Commercial truck insurance in Ohio: what PUCO and Ohio law add
Ohio sets its truck insurance rules through the Public Utilities Commission, its workers' comp through a state fund, and its lawsuit limits through statutes that spare the worst injuries. Each one changes what a sound Ohio policy looks like.
Written by Rigo Diaz
Ohio truck insurance in numbers
Commercial truck insurance in Ohio starts at $750,000 in liability for for-hire freight, whether the load crosses state lines or stays in Ohio, filed with FMCSA or with the PUCO. Ohio-only carriers running only trucks under 10,001 pounds need $300,000, hazmat needs $1 million or $5 million, and a lapse stops Ohio-only operations at once.
Ohio carriers usually ask about the federal number first, and it's the right first question. But Ohio adds its own layer: a state regulator that takes its own insurance filings, a workers' comp system run by the state, a seven-part test for whether a driver is your employee, and lawsuit rules that cap some damages and leave the most serious injuries uncapped.
I spent more than six years in risk management before I founded Simplex, and I've led it for more than 25 years since. This guide covers what Ohio adds to the federal rules, and why the gaps that hurt Ohio carriers most are rarely about the minimum limit.
The full briefing, read aloud
7 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Rigo Diaz.
Key takeaways
Ohio-only freight has the same $750,000 floor
PUCO rules require $750,000 in liability for for-hire property carriers hauling within Ohio, or $300,000 if every vehicle the carrier runs is rated under 10,001 pounds.
Your insurer files with the PUCO
Ohio-only for-hire carriers need a PUCO certificate, and their insurer files proof electronically. If that coverage is canceled or lapses, all operations under the certificate must stop until a replacement is filed.
UM/UIM is optional in Ohio
Ohio law lets an insurer include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage but doesn't require it, so check whether your policy has it and whether it covers your drivers.
Workers' comp comes from the state
Any Ohio employer with one employee needs coverage through the Bureau of Workers' Compensation or approved self-insurance, and a driver counts as your employee unless seven factors all apply.
The caps skip the worst crashes
Ohio caps noneconomic damages in most injury cases, but not for permanent, catastrophic injuries or wrongful death, and an Ohio policy can't pay punitive damages.
In this articleContents
What commercial truck insurance does Ohio require?
Auto liability, at a level set by what you haul, for whom, and where. Interstate carriers follow 49 CFR 387.9; Ohio-only carriers follow Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 4901:2-13, the PUCO's insurance rules.
| Operation | Who sets the rule | Minimum liability |
|---|---|---|
| Interstate for-hire general freight, 10,001 pounds or more | FMCSA, under 49 CFR 387.9 | $750,000 |
| Ohio-only for-hire freight | PUCO, Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03 | $750,000 |
| Ohio-only for-hire, every vehicle under 10,001 pounds | PUCO, Ohio Adm.Code 4901:2-13-03 | $300,000 |
| Hazmat, for-hire or private | FMCSA and PUCO | $1 million or $5 million, by material |
| Private fleet hauling its own nonhazardous goods in Ohio | Ohio financial responsibility law | $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 basic minimum |
One Ohio detail surprises equipment haulers. The PUCO's registration FAQ says a tractor hauled on a trailer counts as hazardous material, because it has an engine and can carry fuel, and answers that the minimum for that work is $1 million.
Ohio sets a cargo minimum only for household goods movers, so on general freight the cargo limit is a contract term set by your broker or shipper. Our guide to what motor truck cargo insurance covers and excludes explains how to match a limit to a contract.
How do insurance filings work for Ohio carriers?
Your insurer files proof for you, with the agency that issued your authority. Interstate for-hire carriers have their insurer file with FMCSA within 20 days of the application's publication in the FMCSA Register; our guide to insurance for a new trucking company walks through that first filing.
Ohio-only for-hire carriers need a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity from the PUCO before their first load. The steps are an intrastate USDOT number, the PUCO's online registration, then your insurer's electronic filing: Form E for liability, plus Form H for household goods movers.
- Renewal: Ohio-only carriers renew the certificate each year between May 1 and June 30, unless they take part in UCR. Household goods movers renew either way.
- Matching names: the PUCO asks that your business name with the Ohio Secretary of State match the name on your USDOT number. A mismatch with your policy's named insured can stall a filing.
- Private carriers: the PUCO doesn't issue certificates to private carriers, but Ohio-only private fleets hauling hazmat still need the hazmat minimums.
What happens if your Ohio coverage lapses
Operations stop. Under R.C. 4921.09, if a filed policy is canceled or lapses for any reason, all operations under the certificate must cease immediately, and the certificate is reinstated only after a replacement filing.
The PUCO requires only ten days' written notice before a filed policy is canceled mid-term. That is a short window to replace coverage, so a missed premium payment deserves a call to your agent the same day.
Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Ohio?
No. Under R.C. 3937.18, a policy issued in Ohio may include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, but isn't required to. Whether your trucks carry it is a choice made when the policy is written, so check the declarations page.
It protects the people insured under your policy, such as your driver, when the at-fault vehicle has no insurance or too little. Three Ohio rules shape how much it does:
- It isn't extra coverage: underinsured motorist limits are reduced by what the at-fault driver's insurance pays.
- Workers' comp doesn't shrink it: the coverage can't be excluded or reduced because workers' comp benefits are payable for the same injury.
- It can exclude employees: a policy may exclude employees occupying a vehicle the policy doesn't provide the coverage for, so the coverage has to sit on the trucks your drivers actually drive.
Ask your agent what your commercial auto liability policy says on each point, and what limit you chose.
How does Ohio workers' comp apply to truck drivers?
Through the state. Every Ohio employer with one or more employees must have coverage from the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, starting with its application and a $120 fee, unless approved to self-insure. An employer that doesn't comply can be sued by injured workers and loses three common-law defenses, including contributory negligence.
When a driver is your employee
Ohio has a test written for trucking. Under R.C. 4123.01(A)(1)(d), anyone who drives for a motor carrier transporting property is an employee for workers' comp unless all seven of these apply:
- The driver owns the truck, or leases it under a bona fide lease from someone other than the carrier.
- The driver supplies the personal services needed to operate it.
- Pay is based on the work, such as mileage or a percentage of rates, not only on hours.
- The driver substantially controls how the work is done, within regulations and the shipper's specifications.
- A written contract describes an independent contractor relationship.
- The driver pays substantially all operating costs, including fuel, maintenance, and truck insurance, though the carrier may pass through fuel surcharge, tolls, permits, and lumper fees.
- The driver bears the economic loss or gain from the arrangement.
The first factor matters for lease-purchase programs: a truck leased from the carrier you drive for doesn't satisfy it. Our guide to in-service liability for leased trucks covers the federal lease terms that sit alongside this test.
Drivers who run outside Ohio
Ohio coverage follows employees on temporary out-of-state work, but some states require their own coverage. The BWC sells optional Other States Coverage and assigns trucking payroll by home terminal: drivers who report to an Ohio terminal go on the Ohio policy wherever they live. If you use owner-operators, expect to show each one's proof of coverage or exemption.
Why is the minimum only a floor in Ohio?
Because Ohio's damage caps stop short of serious truck crashes. R.C. 2315.18 caps noneconomic damages, such as pain and suffering, at the greater of $250,000 or three times economic loss, up to $350,000 per plaintiff or $500,000 per occurrence. But the cap has wide exceptions.
- Catastrophic injuries: no cap for permanent and substantial deformity, loss of use of a limb or of a bodily organ system, or an injury that permanently prevents independent self-care.
- Economic loss: no cap on lost wages, medical care, or other expenses.
- Wrongful death: the section doesn't apply to wrongful death actions.
Punitive damages are yours to pay
An Ohio auto or liability policy can't cover them. R.C. 3937.182 bars coverage for punitive damages, which require malice or a similar finding. For an employer with no more than 100 full-time employees, R.C. 2315.21 caps them at the lesser of twice the compensatory damages or 10% of net worth, up to $350,000.
Two more rules set the clock and the math. Injured people have two years to sue under R.C. 2305.10, and under R.C. 2315.33 a plaintiff whose fault isn't greater than everyone else's still recovers, reduced by their share.
How much is commercial truck insurance in Ohio?
There is no posted rate. Each insurer prices your operation: radius and lanes, commodities, the trucks and their values, each driver's record and experience, your loss history, your safety record, the limits you choose, and your deductibles.
Your safety record is public and underwriters read it. Our guide to how CSA scores affect truck insurance premiums covers what they look at, and our breakdown of what commercial truck insurance costs covers the other pricing factors.
For a fleet, the submission matters as much as the record. List every unit with its VIN and garaging address, every driver, and the commodities you actually haul, and make the names and addresses match your USDOT record and PUCO filing. A policy written on the wrong facts can fail when a claim tests it.
When you compare quotes, compare the same limits, deductibles, exclusions, and UM/UIM choices. A cheaper policy with a gap isn't cheaper on the day you need it.
How Simplex helps Ohio carriers insure their trucks
We start with your authority, your lanes, and your drivers, then build the coverage and the filings around them.
Truck liability and filings
As a broker, we quote and place semi-truck insurance for Ohio operations and check that your limit and filing match your FMCSA or PUCO authority.
Owner-operator coverage
Whether your drivers lease on or run their own authority, our owner-operator insurance team helps you see which coverages each side buys.
Cargo coverage
Our motor truck cargo insurance review matches your limit and commodities to each broker and shipper contract you sign.
Frequently asked questions
What insurance do I need for a commercial truck in Ohio?+
Do Ohio-only trucking companies file insurance with the PUCO?+
Is uninsured motorist coverage required on a truck policy in Ohio?+
Do owner-operators need workers' comp in Ohio?+
What is the best commercial fleet insurance in Ohio?+
Where this information comes from
The requirements below come from Ohio statutes, PUCO and BWC rules and pages, and federal regulations, checked on October 20, 2026. Contracts, lenders, and leases can require more, so confirm your coverage with your agent.
-
1
Ohio Adm.Code Chapter 4901:2-13 — PUCO insurance rules
Intrastate liability minimums ($750,000, $300,000, hazmat), filing requirements, and the ten-day cancellation notice.
-
2
PUCO — Intrastate motor carriers and registration information
Certificate steps, Form E and Form H filings, the May 1 to June 30 renewal, and the equipment-hauling answer.
-
3
R.C. 4921.09 — Liability insurance for for-hire carriers
Operations cease immediately when filed coverage is canceled or lapses.
-
4
49 CFR 387.9 — Minimum levels of financial responsibility
Federal liability minimums for for-hire general freight and hazmat.
-
5
R.C. 3937.18 — Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
UM/UIM is optional, reduced by the at-fault driver's coverage, and may exclude employees in unlisted vehicles.
-
6
R.C. 4123.01 — Workers' compensation definitions
The seven factors that decide whether a motor carrier's driver is an employee.
-
7
Ohio BWC — Out-of-state employee coverage
Extraterritorial coverage, Other States Coverage, and the trucking payroll allocation link.
-
8
R.C. 2315.18 — Limits on noneconomic damages
Noneconomic caps and the catastrophic injury and wrongful death exceptions.
Written by
Rigo Diaz
Founder & CEO, Simplex Group
Founder and CEO of Simplex Group, with more than 25 years leading the company and helping trucking entrepreneurs navigate compliance, insurance, and the day-to-day demands of running a carrier. Before founding Simplex, he spent more than six years in risk management, experience that continues to shape how he approaches insurance, compliance, and carrier risk today.
Published · Updated
Related articles and services
Insure for Ohio, not just the filing
The minimum gets your filing accepted. Ohio's lapse rule, its optional UM/UIM, its workers' comp test, and its uncapped catastrophic claims decide what your policy should actually look like.
If you want a second look at your limits, your PUCO or FMCSA filing, and how your drivers are classified, talk to our team.