Often we think that risks associated with truck drivers are exclusive to their vehicle or the road. In truth, however, motor carriers face multiple liabilities outside of operating their motor truck or fleet. Various policies within commercial auto insurance encapsulate these different liabilities to ensure that coverage is robust and specific to the needs of the insurer.
Motor Truck General Liability Insurance is designed to handle injuries, losses and damages that arise from normal, day-to-day operations. More specifically, it protects the insurer from litigation and lawsuits that are the result of common workday tasks.
Motor Truck General Liability Insurance is distinct in that it covers damages that are in unison with the trucking business but do not involve the act of driving the truck. Coverage examples include but are not limited to:
Motor Truck Cargo Insurance is a separate type of liability coverage. Motor Truck Cargo Insurance covers the freight that is being hauled. It encompasses liabilities such as lost or damaged cargo due to fire, collision, theft or striking of a load. Some policies include cargo debris clean-up costs arising from accidental dumping, pollutant extraction from said dumping, further loss prevention, legal expenses and freight charges.
More and more companies are requiring Motor Truck General Liability Insurance for their motor carriers and for-hire truckers. It is the beginning of a commercial insurance policy and a lot of times there is a minimum amount of coverage required. State and federal regulations often mandate this type of truck insurance and necessitate proof to be compliant.
It is also important to carry Motor Truck General Liability Insurance because things happen in daily operations that are out of our control. Mistakes happen. Accidents happen. This type of liability coverage insures a broad range of situations including:
Bodily injury covers the financial element of injuries sustained by a person or persons that have become hurt while on your insured premises. A person may slip and experience a broken bone or an item may fall during the delivery process and cause harm that warrants a trip to the Emergency Room.
Personal Injury is not limited to physical injury but rather includes mental and emotional suffering. Mental trauma experienced due to long-term physical pain can be classified as personal injury. Emotional suffering brought on by a cosmetic injury can likewise be classified as personal injury.
Property Damage Liability assumes repair or replacement costs for another person’s property.
Advertising Injury is not a physical-type injury but rather an offense that causes sales decline and monetary harm to a competitor. It encompasses libel, slander, invasion of privacy, copyright infringement and product disparagement. Examples include, using defamatory statements against a competing business or utilizing a logo that does not belong to you.
Medical Payments are covered for persons who are injured on your premises. Your policy will define payment terms and conditions but general examples include coverage for doctor visits, hospital visits and stays, surgery, X-rays, EMT and ambulance fees, prostheses along with professional nursing service and care.
Product and Completed Operations protects you from the product that you are delivering. For example, if you are delivering devices meant for oral care and they contain a faulty mechanism that causes a person to choke, you will not be held liable.
Motor Truck General Liability Insurance is exclusively for motor carriers and for-hire truckers that interface with for-hire trucking risks. Fee-based hauling projects and fleet policies are not eligible. Additionally, if you operate a business in conjunction with for-hire trucking, you will not be able to secure a trucker’s general liability policy.
Motor Truck General Liability Insurance is not available in all states and drivers are limited to a 500 mile radius.
The following types of vehicles are excluded:
General liability insurance is available and the aforementioned restrictions and exclusions may qualify for liability coverage outside of Motor Truck General Liability Insurance.
Costs surrounding commercial auto insurance are unique to the needs of your business.
Motor truck general liability insurance can be applied to a range of vehicles with date and time parameters or it can be all-inclusive 24-7. A hybrid plan can be implemented for a span of vehicles and you can work with your commercial insurance agent to incorporate pricing that works within your specified budget to hit your target overall cost per trucking unit.
Motor Truck General Liability Insurance is designed to protect the public and property. For this reason it is not set up to recover personal losses or business losses related to self. It is set up, however, to prove to for-hire businesses that you are capable of assuming the operational risks of a commercial carrier.
No matter what vehicle you have in your fleet or business, Commercial & Farmers has the commercial vehicle insurance to keep you covered.
Commercial & Farmers offers a wide variety of commercial vehicle insurance and has policies specific to commercial truck coverage. Dedicated to understanding the needs of your business, Commercial & Farmers will work with you to find the best insurance at the lowest cost.
Commercial insurance auto coverages run the gambit from liability to driver protection to vehicle protection and cargo protection with specialty coverages as well. The team at Commercial and Farmers actively pursues up-to-date training and has the knowledge and expertise to be your trusted business motor insurance company.