Have you recently purchased an awesome semi truck and need semi truck insurance? Are you not happy with your current semi truck coverage and wondering what to do? Or maybe you’re considering purchasing a new semi and want to know as much as you can before you do? Regardless of your stage in the process, you’re in the right place.

Insurance can be tricky. It can be daunting and confusing. Some may wonder why insurance is even that important.

One simple reason: semi trucks are expensive. You want to protect your investments. Another reason to get insurance? Trucks are big and heavy…they can create some serious damage. Lastly, without insurance, your company is at major risk!

The goal of the summary is to make things a little easier for you. There are several types of semi truck insurance; discussed below are the five main types:

Types of Semi Truck Insurance

Primary Liability Insurance

This is the one type of insurance that the law requires. It doesn’t cover your truck but does cover the damage done to others and/or their vehicles, property, etc. Whether you are an owner-operator or leasing a truck, this is a necessity.

Physical Damage Insurance Coverage

The truck and trailer will be covered under this type of insurance situations including accidents, theft, fires, etc. Physical damage insurance is not required if you own the truck but if the truck is financed, the lien holder will require this insurance.

Bobtail Insurance

Driving your truck without a trailer is known as bob-tailing – hence where the insurance name comes from. Bobtail insurance is the coverage you need when on and off the road (like getting service done) without a trailer. Semi owner-operators who occasionally make trips without dispatch are usually requited to have this coverage.

Motor Truck Cargo Coverage

There is a saying out there, “precious cargo.” A truck’s cargo IS precious, so it is important to have cargo insurance. This protects the cargo if it is damaged, stolen, etc. Read the policy fully so there are no surprises if your cargo is affected anywhere in the future.

Other Housekeeping Items

Basic Information Needed

When it’s time to get a quote, there are some certifications and things to have on hand:

• Current insurance policy “dec page” or declarations page
• Don’t have a dec page? If not, bring your personal auto insurance
• Driver’s license
• Driving history (be honest!)
• VIN number OR make, model, year, and manufacturer

Do’s and Don’ts

• Don’t go with the first quote received
• Get several quotes to compare
• Increase deductibles if possible → the larger the deductible, the less expensive the insurance
• Pay up front if possible
• Insure all vehicles under the same provider → more benefits
• Shop around for insurance a few times throughout the year → prices may vary depending on time of year
• Cheapest isn’t always the way to go
• Google the insurance company’s reputation → make sure they understand the trucking industry and its business

Premium Deciders

• Driving record
• Credit score
• Limit of liability coverage
• Type of operation
• Radius of operation
• Age/condition of vehicle
• Location of trucks during downtime

Question to Ask

• What are all the policy options?
• Is there an unlimited policy?
• What kind of deductible options are there?
• Are there any discounts?
• What does this insurance not cover?
• Are there claim reporting abilities at any time of the day or just business hours?
• How can the (decided) policy be suited for the individual needs?

Conclusion

Put as nicely as possible, insurance can be a lot. Remember that transparency is key. Discuss your options for insurance on a semi truck with multiple insurance companies.  Compare the differences between policies and choose which one fits the needs of the truck you’re getting insurance for. Finding resources will help make the process easier. Our daughter

company, All Wheels Financial, could be one of those resources. We send positive vibes and hope the semi truck insurance purchased will be one to last for many, many years!

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