Arkansas Truckers Now Operating With Anti-Indemnification Protection

April 6, 2015 1:25 PM, EDT

Arkansas has become the 42nd state to protect truckers against having to choose between losing a load or signing a contract that makes them liable for any and all accidents, regardless of who is to blame.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed an anti-indemnification bill into law March 20 after lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the measure last month.

Native Arkansan President Bill Clinton was the 42nd president of the United States, and now the Arkansas Trucking Association is proud to be the 42nd state to enact anti-indemnification legislation,” association President Shannon Newton said.

The association and Arkansas’ trucking industry “are so pleased with the members of the Legislature and the governor for supporting this fair bill,” Newton added. “Trucking companies in Arkansas will no longer be contractually obligated to underwrite the shipper's own negligence.”

Two Republican lawmakers, Sen. Jon Woods and Rep. Micah Neal, sponsored the bill through the legislative process.

The eight states without anti-indemnification laws are Mississippi, Ohio, Delaware, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire.

New Jersey truckers have a bill moving through both chambers of the Legislature there.