What the insurance company does not want you to know is that the trucking company often controls the most important evidence immediately after the crash.

In a Wisconsin truck crash near Eau Claire, the motor carrier usually has custody of the truck's electronic logging device (ELD) data, driver qualification file, dispatch records, and maintenance records. The truck itself may also contain engine control module (ECM) or other onboard data often called the "black box." That information is not held by police or your insurer by default.

The follow-up question you should be asking is: how long can they keep it before it disappears?

Under FMCSA rules, supporting documents for hours-of-service records generally must be kept for 6 months. Driver records of duty status are also commonly retained for 6 months. Some ECM, dash-cam, Qualcomm, and telematics data can be overwritten much sooner if the truck goes back into service. A carrier can legally lose critical evidence fast unless it is told to preserve it.

Who may have relevant records depends on the company structure:

• Driver: trip details, app messages, pre-trip inspections
• Motor carrier: ELD data, maintenance, hiring, drug/alcohol testing, safety files
• Broker: load tenders, communications, carrier selection records
• Trailer owner or shipper: cargo and inspection records in some cases

Insurance is also different for commercial trucks. Under federal law, many interstate carriers must carry at least $750,000 in liability coverage, and some freight requires $1,000,000 or more. Wisconsin passenger-car minimums do not tell you what coverage is available in a truck case.

If you were working when the crash happened - such as driving between jobs or in a company vehicle - your boss telling you to use your own health insurance does not override Wisconsin workers' compensation. Work injuries are reported to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, while crash investigation records may also come from the Wisconsin State Patrol if the wreck was on I-94 or a state highway during fall deer migration season.