Get The Right Long Haul Trucking Insurance

Long Haul Trucking Insurance

How to get the right long haul trucking insurance policy? Before we start let’s look at some statistics about the trucking industry. Over 33 million trucks are operating in the U.S. 3 million of which are tractor trailers. On average, a long haul truck driver logs over 100K miles annually.

Commercial trucks are involved in 2.4% of all car accidents. An estimated 500000 truck accidents occur each year and nearly 5000 people are killed in these accidents. Also, the estimated costs of all large truck accidents exceed $100 billion annually.

The question here is how the trucking companies can avoid all these losses. The answer is simple – long haul trucking insurance. But that’s not an easy task. What every trucking company need to know is how to get the right insurance policy. Therefore, we are going to see some tips.

Coverage

The right coverage is essential for your business. You don’t want to pay more for something you don’t need. Get the coverage based on your specific needs. Here are some examples:

  • Trucker’s Auto Liability Insurance – you need this insurance coverage to legally engage in the transportation of goods for hire in the United States. The federal agency that regulates the transportation of goods for hire is the Department of Transportation and specifically the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  FMCSA requires that an insurance company file a proof of financial responsibility in order to grant authority to transport goods for hire.
  • Non – trucking Liability insurance (sometimes incorrectly referred to as bobtail insurance) – limited liability coverage for owner – operators who lease their trucks to a motor carrier. This coverage will generally apply when using your truck for personal reasons.

– Physical damage – this coverage includes collision (covers repairs in case of road incidents) and comprehensive (covers damage from fire, vandalism and theft);

– General liability – protects your facility, office areas, parking areas, outside storage facilities and other critical components of your trucking business;

– Cargo – liability protection for the hauled freight or commodity in case of damage or loss;

– Workers Compensation – number of coverages for your employees in case they get injured in a work-related activity.

  • Occupational Accident insurance is a policy meant for contracted owner – operators.  In most cases these policies will provide limited medical, short term disability, long term disability and life insurance coverage in case of an accident on the job. It is important to understand that these policies are not meant to replace and are not statutory workers compensation insurance.

Deductibles

Your deductible is the amount you pay out-of-pocket if an accident occurs. Higher deductible will lower your premium. But higher deductibles are a good way to lower your premium if you are a well-managed business and you don’t get into a lot of accidents.

Shop Around for Long Haul Truck Insurance

There are a lot of insurance companies that can offer you this kind of insurance. It’s wise to get at least 3 offers and compare them, but not by premiums only. The more offers you get, the more you will compare and chances for finding exactly what you need will increase significantly. Even if you already choose an insurance company, that doesn’t mean you can’t get some fresh info from other companies. You might get surprised what they can offer you. 

A lot of agents will offer the same insurance companies. In order to get the best price, it is important to use one agent for each insurance company. Submissions from multiple agents in the same insurance company are sometimes problematic due to difference in the information provided to the insurance company.

The Cost

Generally, monthly premiums for long haul trucking insurance are often based on where your business is located, where your fleet travels to, the type of freight you hauled, credit history, driving history and some other factors. When asking for a quote for insurance it’s better to be prepared with this data, so you won’t miss something important that can influence your cost.

Give us a call and we will help you get the coverage you need to protect your business. Our experience in the trucking industry is at your service. If you are an owner-operator we can get you some special offers for commercial truck insurance specifically designed to fit your needs and you can save some money. Also, check out what other types of insurance we have for you.