Under the logo liability doctrine, a carrier whose identification appears on a vehicle operating under its authority is responsible for the operation, reflecting the federal requirement that lessees assume exclusive possession and control.
The doctrine developed to prevent carriers from disclaiming responsibility for leased equipment.
Alternative Names:
Placard Liability, Logo Doctrine
Why it Matters?
Logo liability effectively answers the ownership question in trucking cases: whoever's placard was on the door bears responsibility for the trip. It also determines coverage, since non-trucking liability policies exclude operation under a carrier's authority. Photographs of the vehicle's markings are accordingly among the first evidence gathered, and the absence of placards raises its own questions about unauthorized operation.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does displaying a carrier's logo create liability?
Can the presumption be rebutted?
