Charlotte Dump Truck Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on March 30, 2015. It has 0 comments.

Carrying insurance for your business is all part of owning and operating a company. The coverage you purchase protects you, your business, your employees, and your customers in the event of an unforeseen accident. On average, there is one dump truck-related fatality a week in the United States. In the dump truck business, you need special coverage to properly protect both drivers and customers.

Specialized Charlotte dump truck insurance policies are available for standard dump trucks, gravel trucks, transfer dump trucks, super dump trucks, six or ten wheelers, and just about any heavy-duty truck with a bed that tilts back to dump material out.

WHAT DETERMINES YOUR DUMP TRUCK INSURANCE PREMIUM

Every company is unique and one policy or premium doesn’t fit all. As with any insurance coverage, there are several factors that are used to determine your total cost:

  • The truck itself – type and size
  • The material being hauled – hazardous materials will increase your premium
  • The location you’re hauling the materials to
  • The driving records of your drivers
  • Any personal items carried in the cab of the truck
  • The amount of time you’ve been in business and operating this specific type of truck

Be honest and forthcoming with this information when you speak with an insurance agent or fill out your paperwork. Getting caught later could result in much higher premiums or a cancelled policy – neither of which is good for business.

CHARLOTTE DUMP TRUCK INSURANCE COVERAGE

Any basic dump truck insurance policy will include liability and physical damage coverage. You have the option to include different add-on policies to better protect you and your business.

  • Non-trucking insurancecovers independent owner/operators who do contract work. Coverage is provided during off-work hours.
  • Motor truck damage insurancecovers valuable cargo.
  • Collision insurancecovers your repairs if your truck collides with an object or another vehicle.
  • Fire and theft insurancecovers you for damage to your truck as a result of fire or theft.
  • Environmental insuranceprotects you in case of some pollution-related accidents. It covers losses, fines, costs of restoration, and clean-up, if needed.
  • Off-season comprehensive only insuranceprotects your vehicle when not in use in the off-season.
  • Rental reimbursement with downtimepays for a rental dump truck when yours is unavailable for use due to damage or theft.
  • Sand and gravel haulers insuranceadds protection if you haul aggregate.

Drivers will need a proof of financial responsibility, otherwise known as a financial responsibility filing, with them while they’re driving your trucks. This filing shows proof of having dump truck insurance in the event of an accident.

Protect your business, your drivers, your customers, and yourself and make sure you have the right Charlotte dump truck insurance. You know just how much damage a big truck can do. Don’t let one accident ruin you or your business. We can help you find the coverage that fits your business. Contact us today and let’s find the right dump truck policy for your company.

Charlotte Tow Truck Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on March 25, 2015. It has 0 comments.

Because of the risks associated with operating a tow truck, finding the right Charlotte tow truck insurance policy is extremely important.

Carrying the wrong amount or kind of insurance is just as bad as not carrying any coverage. Your tow truck insurance will protect you, your drivers, your business, and your customers.

CHARLOTTE TOW TRUCK INSURANCE COVERAGE

In order to make sure you have the best coverage, it helps to know what kind is available. All commercial truck companies are required to carry a minimum of liability and physical damage coverage. Tow truck insurance has several additional and specialized types coverage you can select.

  • Tow truck liability insurance includes bodily injury and property damage. Remember, tow truck drivers and companies can be held liable in several instances: being at fault in an accident; any damage caused to the vehicle being towed; injured passengers; and damaging another, separate vehicle on the road.
  • On-hook towing insurance covers the vehicles you’re physically towing.
  • Garage service insurance protects the vehicles you have stored at your facility.
  • Collision coveragerepairs or replaces your tow truck in the event of a crash.
  • Comprehensive coverage protects your tow truck in other non-crash accidents.
  • Medical payments coverage will pay the medical payments if you, your drivers, or your passengers are injured because of an accident that occurs while riding in the tow truck.
  • Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage protects you when the other driver, who’s at fault, has little or no insurance coverage of their own.

CHARLOTTE TOW TRUCK INSURANCE PREMIUMS

As with all insurance, certain factors can affect the premiums you pay. Of course, the amount of insurance you purchase is a direct factor, but there are other things to consider:

  • Tow trucks are at an increased risk for accidents.
  • The age and model of your trucks can affect cost.
  • Whether your drivers have clean or not-so-clean driving records impacts your premiums.
  • How and where your trucks will be used makes a difference.

If you offer towing services for repossession of vehicles or other items, be aware that some insurance providers will not cover your trucks. Extra risks come with repossession. You’ll want to work closely with our insurance agents who can do the research and find the right coverage for you.

Tow trucks provide an amazing service for disabled vehicles and their owners who are often stressed to the max to find themselves stranded on the side of the road or in a parking lot somewhere. But providing that service comes with a risk. We can help you find the coverage that protects your drivers, your business, and your customers while letting you focus on helping people and their vehicles. Give us a call today!

Types of Charlotte Commercial Truck Insurance

Written By Charlotte Insurance on March 16, 2015. It has 0 comments.

Big trucks are a necessary part of life. Without trucks, goods couldn’t get hauled from one end of the country to the other, disabled vehicles couldn’t get towed, trash couldn’t be picked up, and boxes couldn’t be delivered to your front door. Trucks are everywhere on the roads and, unfortunately, accidents happen. Good insurance coverage is imperative in your business.

Your Charlotte commercial truck insurance requirements are determined, in part, by how many people drive trucks for your business, how many miles are traveled each year, and what is being hauled.

BASIC COMMERCIAL TRUCK INSURANCE COVERAGE

The commercial trucks that require insurance include semi trucks, dump trucks, garbage trucks, car and auto haulers, tow trucks, flatbed trucks, tank trucks and box trucks.

Regardless of what kind of truck you own, you must carry liability insurance. Commercial truck liability insurance covers you or your employees if you cause an accident and includes bodily injury and property damage liability coverages. Other coverages typically included in a basic commercial truck insurance policy are:

  • Physical Damage Coverage: Covers the costs of any damage to your truck caused by an accident or another incident.
  • Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Protects you if the other driver is at fault and does not have insurance, or does not have enough insurance to cover the cost of the injuries or damage.
  • Truck Cargo Coverage: Covers any damage to or theft of items being hauled by your truck.

SPECIFIC TYPES OF TRUCK COVERAGE

While all trucks must carry liability insurance, some trucks have additional options that can be added to your coverage to better protect you, your employees, and your business.

Talk to your independent insurance agent to see which of these will work for your policy:

  • Collision insurance
  • Fire and theft insurance
  • Environmental insurance
  • Rental reimbursement insurance
  • Off-season comprehensive coverage
  • Medical payments insurance
  • Equipment coverages
  • Bobtail insurance
  • Non-trucking liability insurance
  • Occupational accident insurance
  • Non-owned trailer coverage

SEMI TRUCK INSURANCE

Semi Trucks need very specialized insurance coverage. Every state has minimum liability requirements that must be met, but if your trucks cross state lines, you’ll need to meet federal minimum requirements instead. The minimums that you’ll need vary depending on the weight class of your truck and the materials being hauled.

OWNER OPERATOR INSURANCE

No matter what type of commercial truck you drive, if you are an owner operator, you have additional insurance details to consider. You will be required to carry a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance, although some financial planners recommend as much as $5 million to fully protect you. You may also want to consider additional coverage, such as Gap insurance and occupational accident insurance.

TOW TRUCK INSURANCE

In additional to commercial truck liability and any of the add-ons listed above, tow trucks need specific coverage for your vehicle and business. Consider adding tow truck liability insurance, garage service insurance, and on-hook towing insurance to your policy.

Every Charlotte commercial truck business is unique and has different needs. Not all policies are created equal. When you’re ready to purchase new coverage or update your existing policy, the insurance professionals at Charlotte Insurance are ready to help. Give us a call today.

Charlotte Trucking Insurance Policies May Face New Minimum Requirements

Written By Charlotte Insurance on March 12, 2015. It has 0 comments.

No one wants to think about it, but accidents happen. You might travel on the same dark road for years without incident, until one night with icy conditions, decreased visibility, and a deer that runs into the middle of the road.

It happens all across the country:

Regardless of who’s at fault, accidents happen, especially in less than ideal driving conditions.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed new possible minimum insurance requirements for trucking companies. The current requirement is $750,000 and has gone unchanged since 1982. A FMCSA-sponsored study shows that based on inflation, that rate in today’s terms should be closer to $1.6 million, and if medical costs are factored in, $3.2 million. The proposed rule change would increase the minimum from its current level to $1 million in minimum coverage.

Higher minimums means better coverage and protection. Crashes involving truckers are rare when compared to the volume of car accidents. The problem is that when accidents occur, the costs often exceed $1 million, and the current insurance limits don’t fully cover businesses. If an accident involves a catastrophic injury or worse, death, the liability award for the victim or their family can range from the $9 to $10 million. It all adds up to one thing: more out-of-pocket expenses for a business owner.

In reality, the FMCSA is simply catching up to industry standards after 30-plus years with the same requirements. Freight contracts often require a minimum of $1 million in insurance, and many companies carry more than that. In order for all companies to have adequate protection that makes sense in today’s economy, raising the minimum insurance requirement is needed.

As the owner of a trucking company, you have the same considerations. No matter how good your drivers are, no matter how well-built your trucks are, all it takes is one icy road, one bad driver in front of you, or one animal to run out in the middle of the highway. The best way to protect your drivers and your business is to have enough insurance coverage. Raising the minimum to $1 million means you’ll have to pay less out-of-pocket in the event of an accident, meaning you can focus on the well-being of your employees and your business, and worry a little less about your finances.

We’re in the business of helping you protect yourself, your employees, and your business. If you’ve got questions about your Charlotte trucking insurance policy or you’re ready to raise your coverage, let us know. We’re here to help.