Finding the right truck insurance can be difficult because there are so many specializations in the world of commercial truck insurance.  The specialties exist for a few reasons.  Largely because commercial trucks are used in such varying capacities, and largely because the federal and state governments dictate coverage amounts to protect people from the capacities commercial trucks are used.

In simpler terms, a state like California will require you have a much higher coverage amount for hazardous materials haulers than they will for household goods haulers.

Household goods don’t tend to explode and shoot flames 60 feet in the air when they’re involved in a heavy accident—gasoline does. Hence the different cargo insurance amounts.

Specializations among commercial truck insurance exist for styles of trucks and their functions, as well as the cargo they carry.  Big truck insurance for large rigs will have fairly standard coverage amounts compared to regular semi truck insurance, but they’ll account for their capacity to carry oversize loads.

Additionally, tow truck insurance and dump truck insurance have their own special coverage amounts and characteristics because the capacities of the trucks are different than typical semi tricks—tow trucks obviously haul other vehicles and dump trucks unload in a unique fashion.

If all of this commercial truck insurance specialization confuses you, don’t sweat it.  Just remember, whatever your truck and situation, you really just need primary liability truck insurance and probably some type of trailer and cargo insurance.  If you need help figuring out what coverage amounts you need, just contact one of our agents to help clear it up!

The ruling was in favor of the commercial truck insurance company, who defendant and Los Angeles resident Roland Polanco accused of negligence that resulted in his arrest that allegedly triggered a seizure and cost him further medical bills.  The commercial truck insurance agent allegedly failed to call Polanco’s bank to verify his identification after receiving call from Polanco’s girlfriend and learning the bank had authenticity concerns regarding a check they had issued to him.

Polanco suffered a neurological disorder and is currently receiving checks from a workers compensation insurance policy the truck insurance company covered him under.  Only later, after Polanco was arrested and suffered a seizure, did the insurance agent call Los Angeles police to verify the authenticity of the check.

According to the published reports of the court, the justices ruled in favor of the commercial truck insurance company, stating the agent had no specific legal obligation to place the call to the bank.  Though the case was dismissed in favor of the insurance company, it seems the entire incident could have been avoided with better customer service regarding the claim.

If there is always an open line of communication between insurance agents, claimants and insurance providers, situations like these can be completely avoided.  All it takes is a little personal service—in this case, one simple phone call in real time to the bank would have prevented the Polanco’s unnecessary arrest and possibly even his seizure.  It certainly would have prevented a four-year court case that was ultimately dismissed by the Court of Appeals.

When choosing a commercial truck insurance company, always make sure you trust your agent to provide you with expedient and detailed service in the case of a claim.  Without reasonable customer service, truck insurance claims can be a lot more difficult on both insurance companies and customers alike than they really need to be.