Six Major Factors When You're Looking For The Right Commercial Trucker Insurance Policy

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Since my parents always added me to their auto insurance policy when I was a teenager, I never learned how to make educated insurance policy decisions. When I moved out of my parents house at the age of 25 and it was time to get my own policy, I was overwhelmed with all of the decisions I had to make. Thankfully, my parents were eager to teach me what each insurance coverage option meant and what the best choices were for me. I learned a lot about insurance during this experience, and I am eager to share what I learned with others on my new blog. I also plan to include many tips on choosing health and homeowners insurance policies, so check back often if you want to learn a little more about insurance!

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Six Major Factors When You're Looking For The Right Commercial Trucker Insurance Policy

12 March 2021
 Categories: Insurance, Blog


One of the most important choices you make for your commercial trucking operation is selecting a commercial trucker insurance policy. Purchasing commercial trucker insurance allows you to meet your legal obligations while also protecting the financial future of your commercial trucking operation.

It's important to look into all pertinent factors when selecting the right policy for your operation. The following are six major factors when you're looking for the right commercial trucker insurance policy. 

The driving records of you and anyone who drives for you

Any commercial truck insurance provider is going to want to review your driving record and any employee driving records before insuring you. If you and your drivers have clean records and extensive experience, your insurance costs will be lower. 

The distances you're transporting cargo

Commercial truck insurance providers will typically classify a trucking operation as either local, intermediate, or long distance. If you're regularly transporting cargo long distance as part of your commercial trucking operation, you'll probably pay higher commercial truck insurance premiums than if you were only transporting cargo locally. 

The type of cargo you're transporting

If you're typically transporting highly valuable or hazardous cargo, your insurance costs are likely to be higher. Your premiums are likely to be especially high if you're transporting Class A or Class B cargo. Class A cargo is any cargo that carries a risk of detonation and Class B cargo is any cargo that is considered flammable. 

The type of truck(s) you're working with

The condition of your trucks as well as the presence of any safety features on your trucks will be an important factor.

While newer and more valuable trucking equipment is typically more expensive to insure, safety features like collision warning systems, automatic emergency braking systems, and lane departure warnings can bring down costs. 

The types of coverage you need to carry

There are numerous types of coverage you can carry on a commercial trucker insurance policy. Liability coverage is the most basic type of coverage that you are required to carry by law.

There are also a few types of non-trucking insurance that commercial trucking operations can carry. These types of coverage are designed for situations when the truck is not currently transporting cargo. They include bobtail, occupational accident, and motor truck cargo coverage. 

Commercial truckers should familiarize themselves with these optional coverage types and determine which are necessary for their operation. 

The premium costs

Insurance premiums for a commercial trucking operation are a recurring business expense. For many trucking companies, insurance premiums are among the most expensive overhead costs. It's therefore important to bring premium costs down where possible and factor insurance costs into the company budget.