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What Type of Insurance Do Commercial Truckers Need?

Commercial trucking insurance is important coverage for a small firm or an owner-operator offering trucking services. Your coverage options may differ depending on the type of goods you’re transporting, the type of truck you’re driving, your experience, and the risks incurred. 

Different types of coverage can protect you from costly bills should any of your vehicles become involved in an accident. It covers circumstances where you use your vehicle to transport materials and products and even fills the gaps your personal auto insurance leaves behind. Generally, trucking insurance policies start with primary liability and then build on with several other coverages. However, there are also other types of company trucking insurance you should consider. 

Primary Auto Liability 

Some state laws require drivers to have this insurance coverage. Every one of your trucks, including rented units, must hold commercial auto insurance. Liability insurance provides you with the coverage you need to manage costs when a third party gets injured in an accident. 

General Liability 

For-hire truckers and all Motor Carriers are required to purchase a trucker’s general liability. This policy covers injuries and property games you cause as a result of business activities not directly related to operating your truck. It pays for the property damage or injuries in your case as a result of your business activities. As such, trucker’s general liability insurance may provide coverage for: 

  • Bodily injury and property damage liability 
  • Personal Injury and Advertising Injury Liability 
  • Medical expenses 
  • Products/completed procedures
  • Damage to premises Rented to you

Bobtail 

Bobtail insurance is often mistaken for non-trucking liability insurance, but despite their similarities, there are few particularities every truck owner must understand. So, what is bobtail insurance anyway? Unlike non-trucking liability, which covers your commercial truck for occasions in which it is used for personal matters, bobtail insurance provides coverage for driving without a trailer for commercial purposes. 

In simple words, bobtail coverage intervenes the moment a trucker’s liability insurance and car insurance policies don’t cover accident-related costs like lawsuits.  

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Physical Damage 

Roads could be quite hazardous. Vehicles could be damaged in a fire or an accident, hail, or other natural disasters. It could also be vandalized or stolen. Any of these problems could put your truck out of commission. That’s where physical damage coverage intervenes. It pays for commercial trailer or truck repairs from damage that comes from:

  • Vandalism 
  • Collision 
  • Theft 
  • Natural disasters 

Also, if your vehicle gets damaged beyond repair, physical damage coverage can replace it. The cost of equipment and truck will conclude the premiums. 

Trailer Interchange 

A trailer interchange insurance is a type of commercial liability insurance that covers the expenses from damage caused to a trailer while being hauled by a firm/driver that doesn’t own a trailer. 

This is basically Physical Damage coverage for non-owned trailers. This policy protects you if the trailer is damaged by vandalism, collision, theft, or fire. Also, this coverage is only available  if there is a real trailer interchange agreement in place.