Some truckers think that choosing the right trucker insurance is similar to selecting the right car insurance for your everyday car. However, the stakes are significantly higher, and the available coverage options are more complex.
Moreover, insurance companies don’t exactly make their coverage easy to understand. As a small trucking operation, your business encounters distinct challenges that a bigger fleet may not experience, and your insurance needs to reflect this reality.
Here’s what you should look for when choosing trucker insurance.
Coverage Limits That Actually Make Sense
Smaller operations tend to have a tighter cash flow, which is why sticking with the minimum required coverage limits may be tempting. While this bare-minimum approach may meet legal requirements, it often falls short in the modern litigation environment. $750,000 might sound like a lot for a liability policy. However, this amount is woefully inadequate if a serious accident causes multiple injuries or one of your trucks causes a hazmat spill that leaves a major highway shut down for hours.
These days, liability coverage of at least $1 million is recommended by industry experts, although $2 million is a much safer bet. Fortunately, the additional premium cost can be surprisingly low compared to the additional protection this offers. In addition, with shippers and brokers increasingly requiring truckers to carry higher limits, failing to make this investment could cause you to lose business opportunities.
It is also important to pay attention to physical damage coverage, as the distinction between actual cash value and replacement cost can be substantial. Imagine one of your five-year-old trucks is totaled. Actual cash value could leave you scrambling to find a way to make up for the difference in the cost of a new truck, while replacement cost coverage could enable you to purchase a similar truck comfortably.
The Deductible Balancing Act
It can be tricky to balance deductibles with premium costs. Although a higher deductible can keep your premium costs low, these deductibles can add up if you have multiple claims in a short span of time. At the same time, opting for the lowest deductible possible could result in premiums that are prohibitively expensive.
How can small trucking operations find the right balance? Although the ideal approach varies depending on the specifics of the operation, many small trucking companies find deductibles of around $3000 to be a sweet spot, offering reasonable premiums without creating too much financial exposure. Keep in mind that some carriers may offer disappearing deductibles for years without claims, which can be an excellent advantage for operations that are safety-conscious.
Understanding Exclusions and Limitations
Unfortunately, the numerous exclusions tacked on to insurance policies can lead to unpleasant surprises for truckers at the worst possible moment. One tricky area is geographic restrictions, which are not always obvious and could leave you needing additional premiums for operations in a high-risk city such as New York or Los Angeles.
Truckers should also pay attention to cargo exclusions. Cargo, such as refrigerated goods and high-value electronics, may be excluded. In some cases, there may be specific limitations for certain types of freight. Make sure you understand what is covered and what is not before signing on the dotted line.
It is not just cargo you need to pay attention to; driver-related exclusions are another important component. Some policies exclude drivers who have certain violations, fall outside a specific age range, or lack a valid commercial driver’s license.
Claims Service Reputation
Do not overlook the importance of claims service quality. In trucking claims, the response time can make a huge difference. Trucks sitting on the roadside at the scene of an accident will not be able to generate revenue for you, and you will need your drivers to get back on the road as quickly as possible.
Therefore, you should only work with carriers that offer 24/7 claims reporting and have adjusters who are familiar with trucking operations. Make sure you understand your carrier’s philosophy toward the claims payment process, their average claims payment time frame, and their process for resolving disputes.
Policy Flexibility
Small trucking operations tend to change frequently, whether it’s through expanding routes, new equipment, or changing focus from local deliveries to long-haul operations. The right insurance policy will be able to accommodate such changes without the need for a long approval process or extensive policy rewrite. If your operations have seasonal fluctuations, look for a policy that will adjust to your changing activity levels without penalties.
Find the Right Coverage for Your Trucking Operation
Choosing trucker insurance shouldn’t be overwhelming. At John M. Glover Insurance Agency, we have extensive experience helping small trucking operations find coverage that actually makes sense for their specific needs and budget.
We’ll take the time to understand your operations, explain policy details clearly, and work with carriers who are well-versed in the trucking industry.
Don’t settle for insurance that leaves you guessing about your coverage. Reach out today, and we’ll help you find the right balance of coverage, cost, and service quality to protect your business.
