Who Needs Truck Insurance?
Drivers We Insure
Does everyone need commercial trucking insurance? Can't I just use regular auto insurance to protect my truck? These are questions we get from customers every day. It is our aim to make the insurance process easy for you and provide answers to the tough questions so you don't have to.
American Truck Insurance will make sure you have the protection you need when you need it. We will walk you through the process step by step and take care of the details, so you can focus on doing your job. Trucking businesses are not all the same.
For example, an independent owner/operator driving a semi truck and a for-hire tow truck driver have very different ways of doing business, and therefore their insurance needs are very different. And whatever your trucking insurance needs may be...from general liability to worker's comp, and all of the little details in between... you can rest assured that we've got you covered.
So who needs trucking insurance anyway?
Did you know that if you own or operate a truck, the law requires commercial truck insurance? Not having adequate coverage could be a very costly mistake that puts your business and your entire livelihood at risk.
Independent Owner Operators Under Their Own Authority
If you are a truck owner and operator working under your own authority, you are considered a for-hire driver, essentially an independent entity. You are responsible for your own USDOT number, your own MC number, and your own trucking insurance. Clients like shippers and brokers who utilize a for-hire trucker have no responsibility of keeping records for the driver or the vehicle. Since the responsibility falls completely on your shoulders in this type of arrangement, it is crucial to make sure you have all of the necessary coverage to run your business effectively!
Some of the basic coverage options you will need include:
General Auto Liability - insurance policy that covers claims arising from an insured’s liability due to damage or injury (caused by negligence or acts of omission) during performance of his or her duties or business
Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage - included under auto liability
Physical Damage - covers the expense to fix or replace your commercial truck if stolen or involved in an accident
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance - covers the cargo you are hauling against loss or damage
Owner Operators Under Lease to a Motor Carrier
Perhaps you are an owner-operator providing transportation services using your own commercial vehicle, but you are under contract or lease to another motor carrier. While you are still considered an independent contractor, the arrangement is more like an "employee" relationship. In this case, since you are operating under the motor carrier's USDOT number, it is the motor carrier who is required to take responsibility for the condition and maintenance of your commercial vehicle as well as insuring the cargo.
In this situation, your truck insurance needs will be determined largely by the contract or lease agreement with the motor carrier. It is customary for the motor carrier to offer primary liability insurance while you are working under their lease. General liability will protect you against injury to other people and damage to property when you are at fault.
While it is convenient to allow the motor carrier to handle purchasing trucking insurance for you, securing your own policy in your name offers you more control over pricing, security and service.
There are additional owner operator truck insurance coverage options you may want to consider to go along with the liability insurance. This includes:
Physical Damage - covers the expense to fix or replace your commercial truck if stolen or involved in an accident
Non-Trucking Liability - covers your truck liability for your truck when you are off duty and not under dispatch
Motor Truck Cargo insurance - covers the cargo you are hauling against loss or damage
Ask American Truck Insurance how we can assist you in getting the best trucking insurance policy tailor made for your business. Call us at 817-225-6081/888-409-7387 or contact us online now!