Corporate Vehicles vs Commercial Vehicles

In Florida, commercial vehicles (CVs) such as large trucks or passenger buses cause a disproportionate amount of road accidents and injuries when compared to other vehicle types.  However, many people will confuse a CV with a corporate vehicle or ‘company car,’ arguing that they are vehicles used for commercial enterprises and thus should qualify. At least in Florida, there is a legal difference between the two types of vehicles, which can matter if you are later involved in a crash.

Corporate Vehicles: Business-Owned

Perhaps the simplest way to understand the difference between corporate and commercial vehicles is to know that CVs are almost always very large vehicles, like tractor-trailers or large private buses. Corporate or ‘company’ vehicles are more likely to be cars, pickup trucks, and trailers, though sometimes even a bicycle or electric scooter may qualify. The reason for this is that corporate vehicles tend to be used for somewhat different kinds of work than a large CV – for example, a DoorDash driver’s bicycle or a traveling salesman’s car, as opposed to a long-haul cargo truck.

Corporate vehicles also tend to be owned by businesses or governments, rather than commercial vehicles, many of which are owned by their drivers, particularly if they are independent contractors rather than employees of specific transport companies. Corporate vehicles can serve as occasions for tax deductions for the business as well, while commercial vehicles may or may not fit that role.

Commercial Vehicles: Defined By Law

Unlike with corporate vehicles, the definition of a commercial vehicle is enshrined in both Florida and federal law (though with only minor differences between them). Florida’s law holds that a commercial motor vehicle is one that is (1) not owned or operated by any governmental entity; (2) uses “special fuel or motor fuel” on public highways; and (3) either weighs at least 26,001 pounds in gross vehicle weight or has three or more axles, regardless of weight.

If a corporate vehicle fits the requirements to be a CV, then it may be classified as both, but most of the vehicle types that fall under ‘corporate vehicle’ as a designation will not qualify as CV. A CV may qualify as a corporate vehicle in terms of the vehicle’s usage, but the reverse is rarely true. In the event of an accident, the driver of a commercial vehicle – and possibly, their employer – may wind up being held liable, while the driver of a corporate vehicle may be more likely to face individual liability, depending on the nature of their work.

Contact A Tampa Commercial Vehicle Accident Attorney

While any driver may be held liable for negligence in the event of an auto accident, commercial vehicles and their drivers face a different standard of proof, given how likely it is that a crash involving a CV leads to injuries. A Tampa commercial vehicle accident attorney from the Rinaldo Law Group can help you determine how to proceed in terms of seeking damages for what you have suffered. Call our office today to schedule a consultation.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0320/Sections/0320.01.html