Nevada Trucking Association opposes SB 180, Citing Harm to families and local businesses

The Nevada Trucking Association (NTA) strongly opposes Senate Bill 180, which proposes raising the minimum liability insurance requirement for intrastate freight haulers from the federal standard of $750,000 to $1 million starting January 1, 2026, $1.25 million by 2028, and $1.5 million by 2030. This arbitrary and burdensome measure threatens Nevada’s small, intrastate, family-owned trucking companies and will drive up costs for families, without evidence justifying the increase, while interstate trucking companies would still be subjected to a minimum insurance level of $750,000.

Currently, New Jersey is the only state in America with a minimum insurance requirement above the federal level of $750,000.

Unfair Burden on Nevada’s Small Businesses

SB 180 targets every Nevada-based intrastate trucking company using vehicles over 26,000 pounds. This impacts over 3,600 Nevada-based businesses, including household goods movers, tow operators, and trucking companies serving construction, agriculture, garbage, and food and beverage industries. These small, intrastate carriers—often one-truck operations—face premium hikes that could double overnight, while their interstate competitors, subject only to the federal $750,000 minimum, avoid these costs entirely. This disparity gives out-of-state carriers an unfair advantage, threatening local jobs and businesses.

Insurance Challenges and Skyrocketing Costs for Nevadans

SB 180 doubles Nevada truckers’ insurance from $750,000 to $1.5 million by 2030, a steep jump over federal standards. Most insurers won’t cover beyond $1 million, forcing truckers to buy two policies—excess or umbrella—to comply. With insurers wary of big claims, coverage will be scarce and costly, blocking new drivers and hiking premiums.

Higher Costs for Nevada Families

The increased insurance costs will ripple through the economy, raising prices for everyday goods like groceries, fuel, and household essentials. Small carriers, unable to absorb these expenses, will pass them on to consumers or shut down, reducing competition and inflating costs for Nevada families already strained by rising living expenses. One NTA member reported closing their business after a 30% insurance hike for 2024-2025, a preview of what SB 180 could unleash statewide.

No Data Supports the Increase

Nevada crash data undermines SB 180’s rationale. From 2018 to February 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recorded 5,702 truck crashes in Nevada, with only 421 (7.38%) involving Nevada-based intrastate carriers. The vast majority—5,281 crashes—fall under the federal $750,000 standard, unaffected by this bill. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2022 report found no evidence to justify raising the federal minimum, unchanged for nearly four decades. If federal experts see no need for change, why should Nevada penalize its own businesses?

Nevada’s Litigation Environment Exacerbates the Problem

Nevada’s litigious climate, with 180,274 civil lawsuits filed in 2023—far exceeding states like Oregon (113,211), Utah (81,086), and Nebraska (62,106)—drives up insurance costs. Tort cases alone totaled 7,936 in Nevada’s district courts, triple Utah’s 2,518. Insurers, wary of this environment, are already exiting the state, and SB 180’s higher liability thresholds will worsen this trend, leaving small carriers struggling to find affordable coverage.

A Patchwork of Standards Harms Nevada Companies

Trucking is inherently interstate, and Congress entrusted the Department of Transportation with uniform standards to avoid state-by-state chaos. SB 180 creates exactly that, forcing Nevada’s intrastate carriers to meet costly requirements their interstate rivals dodge. This not only undermines local businesses but also risks a broader insurance crisis, as seen in states like California and Florida, where insurers have fled due to rising risks.

“We urge our lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 180,” said Paul J. Enos, CEO of the Nevada Trucking Association. “This bill unfairly targets Nevada’s small trucking companies, threatens jobs, and will raise prices for families—all without evidence that current standards are failing. While Nevada trucking companies and their customers will suffer, the billboard attorneys will be the largest beneficiaries.”