If you’re hauling with flatbed trucks, you have risks other trucking companies don’t have to worry about. Understanding these additional risks helps you make smart decision to protect your drivers, your trucks, your profits, and your company.
Here are 5 risk only flatbed trucking companies will really understand.
1. Need For Advanced Load Securement Strategies
Flatbedders have to know all the advanced strategies for making sure nothing moves during transport. A faulty latch, strap, tarp, or knot could mean a rod, log, or machine part going straight through someone’s windshield.
When something comes loose in a closed truck, the worst you have to worry about is damaged cargo. But with a flatbed, someone could die or end up with some extremely high medical bills.
While death and injury are terrifying possibilities, your company could also be faced with some enormous financial expenses. And even the best drivers can make a mistake when securing a load.
Making sure you’ve got insurance to cover this kind of risk is important.
2. Carrying Dangerous Freight
This isn’t something exclusive to a flatbed truck company. But it’s definitely more common. You may be carrying heavy metal beams that could cut your driver or another vehicle in half.
All it takes is a wreck up ahead with no time to stop or not slowing enough around a dusty country bend and dangerous freight launches into the road.
Having cargo coverage for clean up and damage as well as liability to cover other drivers and their vehicle will help you sleep at night knowing you can come back from these kinds of disasters as a business.
3. Walk-Up Theft
Which trucking companies have to worry about someone walking up and stealing something off the truck? Only flatbed truckers. At every reststop, your driver not only runs the risk that someone might steal something. They might also undo a latch in the process, leading to an accident once that truck gets back on the road.
4. Running Empty
Jackknifing is a concern for any large empty truck. But flatbeds really have to be careful. If they’re not weighted with cargo, that trailer is light as a feather. Ice. Rain. A sudden stop. They all increase the risk of a jackknife and losing control.
5. Loading/Unloading Risks
If a forklift driver is onboard loading or unloading, they don’t have side walls to signal that they’re too close to the edge. On top of this, the freight on flatbed trucks tends to be irregular and heavy, making maneuvering difficult. And finally, to make matters even worse, often warehouse staff at the destination aren’t as skilled with unloading a flatbed truck.
Because of this perfect storm of danger, forklift accidents are more common with flatbed trucks.
It’s important to manage that risk with the right flatbed truck insurance coverages.
Don’t Let Gaps In Your Insurance Policy Put Your Company At Risk
Review your flatbed insurance policy. Make sure you’re covered for these kinds of risks and more. Are you lacking the coverage you need to know that your company would be safe should a bad accident happen? It’s time to fill out our simple quote form and start getting quotes from top companies today. We’ll help you save money on your truck insurance.