- What is it?
Commercial trucking insurance can help protect commercial trucks that are exposed to substantial risks, ranging from cargo loss to multi-vehicle accident claims.
- Who’s it for?
- Long-haul and regional freight businesses
- Local and last-mile delivery businesses
- Long-distance and local moving businesses
- Heavy equipment distributors and servicers
- What is offered?
- Physical Damage Coverage
- Unidentified Trailer Coverage
- Trailer Cargo Coverage
- Downtime Coverage:
Commercial Truck Insurance in California
We can offer the following insurance products:
Whether you run a courier service or trucking firm here are just some of the vehicle types we can help with:
- Semi-Trucks
- Pickup Trucks
- Box Trucks
- Tank Trucks
- Cargo Vans
- Flatbed Trucks
- Dump Trucks
- Delivery/Step Vans
- And More…
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What is Commercial Truck Insurance?
California businesses that operate commercial trucks are exposed to substantial risks, ranging from cargo loss to multi-vehicle accident claims. Commercial trucking insurance can help protect these businesses from many of the vehicle-related risks they face.
Commercial trucking insurance is specialized vehicle insurance for commercially registered trucks. While these policies are similar to other vehicle policies at many points, they often come with higher limits and more optional coverages.
What California Businesses Should Carry Commercial Truck Insurance?
Most businesses that have commercially registered trucks in California ought to carry commercial truck insurance. State law generally requires trucks that are driven on public roads to be insured, and this tends to be the best type of insurance for trucks.
Of course, a wide range of businesses have commercially registered trucks. The following are only some examples of businesses that may want commercial truck insurance:
- Long-haul and regional freight businesses
- Local and last-mile delivery businesses
- Long-distance and local moving businesses
- Heavy equipment distributors and servicers
- Recycling and waste management businesses
- Contractors with commercial box trucks or pickups
There are still many more businesses that might benefit from the insurance. If there’s any question about policy type, an insurance agent who specializes in these policies can help businesses determine whether commercial truck insurance is right for them.
What Coverages Are Available Through Commercial Trucking Policies?
Commercial trucking policies usually offer multiple coverages, including both property and liability protections. Some coverages that policies typically make available are:
- Physical Damage Coverage: May cover damage to business-owned trucks and trailers
- Unidentified Trailer Coverage: May cover damage to non-owned trailers
- Trailer Cargo Coverage: May cover cargo while it’s loaded onto a covered trailer
- Downtime Coverage: May extend truck coverage to when the truck isn’t being driven
- Non-Trucking Coverage: May extend coverage to when the truck is driven for non-work use
- Liability Coverage: May cover injuries and damage to others that occur during accidents
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: May cover accidents by improperly insured drivers\
Unidentified trailer coverage is also referred to as interchange coverage.
What Types of Trailer Cargo Coverage Are Available?
Trailer cargo coverage is available for many different loads, usually including both low- and high-value goods. When selecting coverage, businesses should be careful to choose a class of coverage that matches the class of their cargo. This is something that an insurance agent who knows commercial trucking policies well can assist with.
What is Occupational Accident Coverage?
Most California businesses that have employees are required to carry workers compensation, which normally protects against workplace injuries. Workers compensation frequently won’t extend protection to independent contractors, however, and that’s where occupational accident coverage comes in.
Occupational accident coverage (OCAC coverage) may offer protection for independent contractors’ workplace injuries. The coverage is readily available through commercial trucking policies, and trucking businesses that work with owner-operators often purchase it.
How Much Are Premiums for Commercial Trucking Policies?
Because commercial trucking policies cover many different trucks and many different uses, premiums for these policies can vary dramatically. Some policies for small pickup trucks that are driven locally might be quite affordable, while policies that cover hazmat trucks driving across states can be much more substantial.
Some of the details that frequently impact premiums include the following:
- Number of trucks being insured
- Year, make and model of trucks
- Annual mileage that trucks are driven
- Drivers’ license classes and endorsements
- Drivers’ recent driving records and accident histories
- Types of cargo that trucks transport
- Regions and/or states that trucks are driven in
- Areas that trucks go into (e.g. hard hat areas)
An independent insurance agent can help businesses obtain quotes from several insurance companies to see how much insuring a specific truck or fleet would cost.
How Can Businesses Get Commercial Trucking Insurance?
For help insuring commercial trucks that are registered in California, contact the independent insurance brokers at Truck Writers Insurance Services. Our brokers are well-versed in commercial trucking insurance policies, and we can help you find general or specialized policies depending on your business’ needs.
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