Many people confuse the two words interstate and intrastate.
There is clearly a big difference in the definitions of the two, and there is quite a bit of depth to their meaning when it comes to the appropriate certification for each truck in a commercial fleet.
Each commercial vehicle is insured, and how responsibility falls during civil lawsuits may depend on the classification.
Intrastate means that the goods shipped on any commercial vehicle will stay within the bounds of the state it originates from. For example, a partial load is picked up from a Temple, Texas manufacturer and delivered to Diboll, Texas. The goods never left the state of Texas. Trucking only within a particular state is intrastate.
Interstate means if a shipment is picked up at the shipping terminal in Lake Charles, LA., destined for Charlotte, North Carolina. These goods will be crossing many state lines to be delivered. A foreign authority also allows shipments to move from the USA to Canada or Mexico, which these niche-type carriers need. Remember, Interstate vs. Intrastate motor carriers have to look at two different authorities when trying to discern the definitions of each.
Not only are the tractor-trailer combinations categorized for in-state or across-state travel, but the partial and full loads are categorized as such, too.
There can be confusion with larger trucking companies, as they will have a mix of in-state and Interstate authorized equipment. It is up to the vehicle or asset manager and the dispatcher to discern which ones are used in various cargo-moving situations.
Ensuring that the correct loads go on the appropriately approved equipment becomes an issue for insurance. If an intrastate vehicle is used to cross state lines with Interstate products, there can be huge financial losses if an 18-wheeler accident occurs.
The insurance carrier may refuse to pay any claims since that vehicle did not have the proper coverage to travel out of state.
This could cause a financial disaster for the trucking company and the truck accident victims.
The regulations and financial and administrative logistics of such companies are highly complex.
Our truck accident attorneys work cases across the state of Texas. Some highways we have exceptional expertise on include:
While what highway the trucker is on at the time of a crash is not relevant to their status for intrastate or intrastate status, here is how to tell the status of a highway.
There are clear indicators to look out for to determine whether you are traveling on an interstate or intrastate highway. Firstly, on interstates, you will typically come across signs that display the word “Interstate” followed by a numerical designation. These signs serve as a clear indication that you are on a U.S. highway. On the other hand, if you are driving on an intrastate road, you can identify it by observing signs that display “State Highway” followed by a specific number. These distinct signage conventions allow you to easily differentiate between interstate and intrastate routes as you navigate the roadways.
After a truck accident in Texas, it is best to contact the best truck accident attorney with the knowledge and experience in successfully handling truck accident lawsuits for victims and families who have lost a family member in a truck crash.
For a free no-obligation consultation with a Texas truck accident lawyer, call attorney Greg Baumgartner at 1 (866) 758-4529.
We have been winning trucking cases in Texas for over three decades.
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Call (281) 893-0760 or Toll Free 1-866-758-4529
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