Trucker-liability bill clears House

A bill to protect trucking companies from being held responsible for accidents that result from the negligence of shipping companies was approved Monday by the House.

Senate Bill 755 passed with a 76-4 vote Monday. Nineteen members of the House didn’t vote.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Jon Woods and Rep. Micah Neal, both Springdale Republicans, earlier this month and was passed by the Senate on March 9.

It will prohibit contracts obligating a motor carrier to agree to an indemnity clause absolving a shipper from responsibility for negligence.

Arkansas is one of nine states without an anti-indemnification law protecting trucking companies, according to the Arkansas Trucking Association.