While all motor carriers must carry a limited amount of liability insurance, this is only the basic requirement and it offers no protection for the goods you carry. You need to carry cargo insurance to guard against financial loss from damage to your cargo while in transit or storage. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires truckers who transport household goods and freight forwarders of household goods to carry at least a minimum amount of cargo insurance in case the load becomes damaged or destroyed due to situations beyond the trucker’s control.
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Being a commercial trucking driver means hauling loads of cargo, which can come with some hefty responsibility. When you’re hauling anything from cars to personal possessions to hazardous materials, and it’s important to keep all of your cargo safe. The type of insurance you need may vary from truck to truck, but it’s also important to know your risks and try to prevent them before they happen.
The articles below outline the types of insurance you’ll need for your cargo, why each commercial trucking business needs the proper insurance, and how to lower the rates on your insurance coverage. We’ll also cover topics on how to prevent mishaps like damage and theft to your client’s goods, how to grow your trucking business, the little known risks of transporting goods in the industry, and what you can do as a commercial vehicle owner or fleet manager to keep your trucks in great working condition.
Can I get my own primary liability and cargo if I’m leased to a motor carrier
Primary liability insurance is the only coverage for commercial truckers mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This is basic coverage and proof of financial responsibility that you must have before you can drive. The purpose of primary liability insurance is to cover claims for bodily injury and property damage that you cause to others while operating your vehicle. It does not cover any losses that you suffer, regardless of who was at fault for causing them.
Read moreCan I get my own primary liability and cargo if I’m leased to a motor carrier
5 Safety Tips for Lowboy Trailers
If you’re hauling on lowboys, you know that no type of equipment, machinery, or industrial vehicle you haul is ever quite the same. You’re naturally a problem solver. Every day, you have to put your knowledge of synthetic webbing, winches, ratchets, friction mats and more to work so that you can make sure every load safely reaches its destination. You recognize that it’s not only the cargo at stake – it’s also the safety of everyone on the road and your business’s reputation.
So, here are 5 safety lowboy trailer safety tips that can be vital to protecting your cargo loads and your business.
What Kind of Insurance Do You Need for a Dry Cleaning Van?
Dry cleaning is a $9 billion industry where service is everything. Delivering a consistent customer experience earns you repeat customers and referrals. So, it’s important to keep your dry cleaning vans covered and on their routes to give your customers the best experience. That’s why it’s important to have the right insurance for your dry cleaning vans. In the event of a loss, it gets your vehicle back on the road fast and protects that precious cargo that your customers have entrusted to your capable hands.
But what type of insurance do you need for dry cleaning vans? Let’s take a look.
Read moreWhat Kind of Insurance Do You Need for a Dry Cleaning Van?
How to properly load your truck for safe transport
Imagine looking in your rear review mirror and seeing your cargo spill onto the roadway. A scenario like this could result in a serious accident. A vehicle might swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid hitting the cargo. Or, perhaps a car runs over your spilled cargo, which causes the driver to lose control. Either of these scenarios could happen if you fail to properly secure your load.
Aside from causing accidents, improperly secured loads can hurt your vehicle’s performance. It can affect your braking, speed, and steering control. It can make loads shift or roll back and forth in your truck. We’ll go over some common loading problems and how to properly secure your load.
How much cargo insurance does your trucking business need?
You have cargo insurance and understand its importance. You’ve evaluated the risks of carrying products. The goods your drivers transport in the trailer may even exceed the value of the truck itself. And in some cases, the cargo you carry isn’t that high-priced. In these cases, you could be carrying cargo insurance with limits you’d never reach.
Read moreHow much cargo insurance does your trucking business need?
How to prevent truck cargo theft while you’re on the road
If you’re a trucker, your business depends on getting your cargo from Point A to Point B. Unfortunately, unscrupulous cargo thieves often have different ideas. Finding out that your semi truck or box truck has mysteriously driven itself away (or that the trailer has mysteriously unloaded itself) is enough to ruin a perfectly good day. Not to mention that you have to explain to the client that their load is missing in action. Cargo theft is more common than you might think.
But not to worry – we’ve got some tips to help you prevent cargo theft.
Read moreHow to prevent truck cargo theft while you’re on the road