Washington: When GPS Sends a Truck the Wrong Way, Does Insurance Pay?

A professional driver follows the navigation system and, a few miles later, discovers that the selected road has a weight restriction or a bridge that is too low for the trailer. For a passenger car, a navigation mistake may simply mean finding another route. For a commercial truck, it can result in damage to the vehicle, cargo, public infrastructure, or other road users.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specifically warned commercial drivers about bridge strikes. The agency recommends paying close attention to route restrictions and using electronic navigation systems designed for trucks and buses.

The principle is simple: GPS can assist the driver, but it does not replace the responsibility to verify that a route is safe and legal for the vehicle.

In Washington, Carriers Must Check Their Routes

Washington presents particular challenges for commercial trucking, including mountain passes, bridges, urban corridors, port traffic, and roads with weight or dimensional restrictions.

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) provides tools specifically for commercial vehicles, including route restriction information and a Bridge Vertical Clearance Trip Planner that allows carriers to check bridge clearances before traveling.

WSDOT also makes clear that carriers are responsible for checking route restrictions and clearance issues before certain commercial vehicle movements.

The importance of that responsibility can be seen in the state’s own infrastructure data. According to WSDOT, in fiscal year 2024, 133 state-owned bridges longer than 20 feet were subject to load restrictions or limitations.

In other words, “the GPS told me to go this way” does not automatically eliminate a driver’s or carrier’s responsibility.

So, Does Truck Insurance Pay?

It depends.

A driver’s mistake does not automatically mean that insurance coverage disappears. At the same time, it does not mean every consequence of the accident will necessarily be covered.

If a truck damages a bridge, barrier, another vehicle, or other property, auto liability coverage may come into play, depending on the policy and the determination of liability.

If the tractor or trailer itself is damaged, physical damage coverage may be relevant. If the cargo is damaged or destroyed, motor truck cargo insurance could become part of the claim analysis.

Each coverage has its own limits, deductibles, conditions, endorsements, and exclusions.

A simple navigation error can therefore turn into a surprisingly complicated insurance claim.

A Car GPS Is Not the Same as a Truck GPS

A standard navigation app may prioritize the fastest or shortest route. A commercial truck driver needs considerably more information: vehicle height, weight, length, temporary restrictions, permit requirements, construction, and current road conditions.

FMCSA recommends navigation systems appropriate for commercial vehicles, but even truck-specific technology should not replace official information.

WSDOT maintains commercial vehicle maps, permit information, bridge clearance resources, route restrictions, and travel conditions that carriers can use when planning a trip.

For trucking companies, route verification is not merely about avoiding inconvenience. It is part of managing risk.

The Screen Recommends. The Driver Decides.

Technology has transformed commercial transportation, but it has not eliminated professional responsibility behind the wheel.

GPS can tell a driver where to turn. The carrier still needs to know whether the truck can safely and legally go there.

And if a trip ends underneath a bridge that was too low, an insurer will not look only at what appeared on the GPS screen. The claim may involve much broader questions: What happened? What was damaged? Who was responsible? And what coverage was actually in place?

Official Sources

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT): Commercial Vehicles; Route & Commercial Vehicle Restrictions; Maps & Tools for Commercial Vehicles; Bridge Load Restrictions; Commercial Vehicle Guide.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA): Bridge Strikes; Commercial Vehicle Navigation and Driver Safety.

Editorial note: Insurance coverage depends on the specific policy, endorsements, exclusions, limits, deductibles, and circumstances of each loss.