Accidents Involving Toyota, Ford, and GM Trucks in Kentucky – What Victims Should Know

Why you’re seeing so many “auto-plant” trucks on I-64, I-65 & I-75

Kentucky is home to three major automakers, each with constant inbound/outbound freight:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky (Georgetown): Toyota’s largest vehicle plant by capacity (up to ~550k vehicles and 600k engines/yr). That footprint drives heavy parts and finished-vehicle trucking around Lexington and the I-75/I-64 split.

• Ford in Louisville (Kentucky Truck Plant & Louisville Assembly Plant): KTP alone employs ~8,700 people and builds Super Duty trucks, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator—meaning steady tractor-trailer movements on the I-64/I-65/I-71 corridors.

• GM Bowling Green Assembly (Corvette): Specialized production with steady carrier traffic on I-65/I-165 near Bowling Green.

These plants sit on nationally significant freight routes—I-65 and I-75 are among the nation’s busiest north-south freight corridors, and Kentucky carries almost 200 miles of I-64 across the state.

First things first: what does “Toyota/Ford/GM truck” actually mean?

A lot of trucks you see near these plants aren’t owned by Toyota, Ford, or GM. Most loads are hauled by independent motor carriers (for-hire trucking companies) contracted to move parts or finished vehicles. The legally responsible “operator” is usually the motor carrier named on the tractor door placard—not the shipper whose goods are on the trailer.

How to tell who operates the truck: by law, the vehicle must display the motor carrier’s legal or trade name and its USDOT number on both sides (legible from 50 feet). If multiple names appear, the operating carrier’s name must be shown. Snap a photo if it’s safe.

Takeaway: Even if a trailer has an automaker’s logo or is headed to an automaker’s plant, the liable party is often the contracted motor carrier actually operating the rig that hit you.

Who can be liable after a Kentucky semi-truck crash?

Depending on the facts, claims may involve:

• The truck driver and motor carrier (negligence, training/supervision, HOS/fatigue, maintenance). Key federal rules:

  • Texting/handheld ban for CMV drivers.

  • Hours-of-Service (HOS) & ELD compliance.

  • Inspection, repair & maintenance duties.

• Equipment owners/lessors or maintenance contractors (if defects or poor upkeep contributed).

• Broker/shipper (only in particular scenarios tied to control/selection—fact-specific and hotly litigated; not automatic). The supply chain can be complex; evidence decides where liability lands.

Insurance layer: interstate motor carriers must maintain proof of public-liability coverage, commonly evidenced by the MCS-90 endorsement.

Kentucky law basics that affect your recovery

• No-fault (PIP/BRB): Many Kentucky drivers access Basic Reparation Benefits first for medical/wage losses (often $10,000 minimum), regardless of fault.

• When you can sue for pain & suffering: Kentucky’s tort threshold lets you pursue a liability claim when medical bills exceed $1,000 or there’s a specified serious injury (e.g., broken bone, permanent disfigurement, permanent injury) or death. (Some drivers reject no-fault.)

• Deadlines: Motor-vehicle injury claims are generally due within two years (often measured from the injury or the last PIP payment) under KRS 304.39-230; don’t assume more time.

• Comparative fault: Kentucky allocates fault among all parties; your recovery is reduced by your percentage, but you can still recover from others who share blame. KRS 411.182.

What evidence wins (and why timing matters)

Commercial cases turn on preserving digital and documentary proof before it’s overwritten:

• ELD/HOS logs and dispatch data (fatigue/scheduling).

• ECM (“black box”) downloads (speed, brake, throttle); dash-cam video.

• Maintenance & inspection records (brakes/tires/lighting).

• USDOT markings and bill of lading data to identify the operating carrier (and sometimes broker/shipper).

• Roadway evidence: KYTC camera stills, 911 audio/CAD, reconstruction diagrams.

Early spoliation letters can keep this evidence from being lost.

Special shoulder-scene risks near auto plants

Breakdowns, disabled vehicles, and tow-ins around factory corridors create secondary-crash risks. Kentucky expanded its “Slow Down, Move Over” law to protect disabled vehicles with hazard lights—drivers must change lanes if safe or slow down (including on two-lane roads). This matters in crashes involving stopped trucks, responders, or stranded motorists.

Step-by-step after a crash with a plant-bound truck

• Medical first. Adrenaline hides injuries; follow the treatment plan and keep all records.

• Identify the operator: photo the USDOT number and carrier name on the cab (both sides), plus trailer number and plates.

• Scene documentation: lane lines, skid marks, debris, lighting/weather, shoulder warnings (triangles/flashers).

• Witnesses & agencies: names/phones; note KSP Post # and case/report number.

• Open PIP (if applicable). Using PIP doesn’t admit fault.

• Preserve evidence: send or have counsel send litigation-hold requests for ELD/ECM, video, maintenance files, and dispatch data.

• Be cautious with insurers: give basics; avoid recorded statements until you understand your rights.

FAQ 

“The trailer had a Toyota/Ford/GM logo—do I sue them directly?”

Not necessarily. The liable motor carrier is the company identified by the USDOT placard operating the tractor at the time. Branding can be different from the operator.

“How do federal rules factor into fault?”

Evidence that the driver texted/used a handheld or ran beyond HOS can support negligence; maintenance lapses matter too.

“What if the truck hit a disabled car on the shoulder?”

Kentucky’s Move Over duties plus federal conspicuity/warning-device norms often come into play.

“Do carriers have insurance that can actually pay a serious claim?”

Interstate motor carriers must maintain public-liability filings (often with an MCS-90 endorsement). Amounts vary by cargo/type.

“How long do we have?”

Don’t wait. Many motor-vehicle injury claims must be filed within two years (and sometimes measured from the last PIP payment). Wrongful-death timelines differ.

Sources

• Automaker facilities in KY: Toyota Georgetown overview; Ford Kentucky Truck & Louisville Assembly; GM Bowling Green Assembly.

• Freight corridors: KY Freight Plan (I-65/I-75 among busiest; ~200 miles of I-64).

• Marking/identifying the carrier: 49 CFR 390.21 (marking; USDOT display).

• Federal safety rules: 49 CFR 392.80 (no texting); Part 395 (HOS/ELD); Part 396 (maintenance).

• Carrier insurance filings: FMCSA insurance/MCS-90.

• Kentucky law: KRS 304.39-230 (limitations); KRS 304.39 (MVRA framework); KRS 411.182 (comparative fault).

• Move Over expansion (2024): NKyTribune; Spectrum News 1.

How Morrin Law Office can help 

We represent Kentuckians injured in commercial truck crashes tied to the Toyota, Ford, and GM corridors statewide. We move fast to preserve ELD/ECM and video, map every responsible company (driver, motor carrier, equipment owner, and where appropriate, broker/shipper), and keep you informed in plain English.

Contact Morrin Law Office

(859) 358-0300 • morrinlawoffice.com • 214 W Main St, Richmond, KY 40475

Serving clients across Kentucky.

Disclaimer

This article shares general information based on public sources and current regulations. It is not legal advice and not a solicitation. Do not use this post to contact crash victims or families. Laws and facts change—speak with a licensed Kentucky attorney about your situation.