Commercial truck drivers know better than most about staying safe on the roads. But even when taking suitable precautions, it’s not always simple to dodge the unexpected – and the fact that the more you spend behind the wheel, the bigger the chance that something will go wrong.
While you can quickly reduce the likelihood of a road accident by limiting the number of hours you drive per day and ensuring that your truck is in good condition, it’s also essential that you have coverage for when conditions beyond your control cause trouble. Having commercial trucking insurance is wise for an owner-operator or small business providing trucking services. However, it does pay to know that your insurance option will vary significantly depending on the type of vehicle your drivers operate on, the products they’re carrying, the experience, and the risks incurred.
How Does Commercial Trucking Insurance Work?
Commercial trucking insurance is an essential type of coverage that will protect you from expensive bills should any of your vehicles become involved in an accident. As a driver, you likely know you require auto insurance to stay legal on the road.
It covers circumstances where you use your trucks to transport animals and materials. If your vehicle is being operated for professional and personal use, a commercial insurance truck policy will fill the gaps in your auto insurance skips.
These policies start with primary liability and then (depending on your trucking needs) build on with several other coverages. Typical commercial trucking insurance coverage includes:
Liability Insurance
Liability insurance must protect the driver when a third party becomes injured during an accident. As we’ve previously mentioned, depending on your state, you’re legally required to hold this insurance coverage. Each vehicle, including leasing units, must carry commercial auto insurance.
General Liability
The general liability coverage will protect you if one of your employees causes bodily or property damage from an accident. It covers a driver’s actions while driving on another individual’s premises, like truck stops or loading docks. General liability also includes load delivery errors.
Bobtail Insurance
This coverage option, or non-trucking liability, is coverage for situations where the truck driver is operating the vehicle for personal reasons or is off dispatch. The bobtail policy will kick in when the liability coverage doesn’t cover the owner-operator. However, the bobtail coverage doesn’t protect truckers when pulling a trailer, driving a truck for a business, or using the car to make a profit. To find the bobtail insurance cost that best fits your commercial needs and expectations, visit https://www.insuranks.com/bobtail-insurance to compare quotes online.
Physical Damage
This coverage type will pay for trailer or commercial truck repairs from damage by things such as:
- Collision
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Natural disaster
Moreover, if your truck becomes damaged beyond repair, Physical Damage coverage will replace it. Both the costs for equipment and trucks will determine the premiums.
Lastly, all types of trucking coverage exist for one reason: to make the roads safer and fairer for everyone – not just the trucking companies but also other drivers. With the right coverage type, You’ll have peace of mind that you’re protecting your business and others on the road.
