Trucking Liability Insurance Isn’t Always Enough

Trucking liability insurance is a must-have for any driver.  In fact, most states require drivers to carry a mandatory minimum of liability coverage in order to operate a motor vehicle.

Commercial trucks are also required to have some form of liability insurance coverage.  The most common form of trucking liability insurance is called primary liability.

Primary Liability

As required by federal law, all truck drivers must be covered with primary liability at all times.  This type of commercial truck insurance overage is designed to cover the cost of repairs and medical bills that result from traffic accidents in which the policyholder is at fault.  The purchaser agrees on a level of coverage (ex. Up to $100,000) and premium amount.

Accidents occur frequently on roads and highways and policies such as primary liability are designed to lessen financial burdens on drivers at fault and ensure that accident victims are properly compensated for their losses.

Physical Damage Insurance

Primary liability, while a very basic form of truck insurance coverage, does not cover everything.  Drivers (especially independent owner operators) should have some form of physical damage insurance to protect their trucks when they are on or off the job.

 A Note About Cargo And Trailers
Cargo can also be a factor.  The different subsets of the commercial truck industry have their own specific regulations regarding coverage minimums.  Haulers of produce, household goods, garbage, and construction materials, for example, all may need separate specific cargo insurance.

Trailers may also need a separate trailer insurance policy if they are regularly swapped between drivers and/or companies.  In these trailer interchange situations, any liability or damage coverage on the trailer is voided once the trailers are swapped.  Trailer interchange insurance maintains coverage in these times.

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For more truck insurance articles like this, visit some of our additional resources like: Commercial Truck Insurance: Specialty Insurance for Independent Truckers or Truck Insurance: Motor Carrier Insurance and Independent Options