Commercial Trucking Insurance in Vermont

WHAT IS IT? WHO NEEDS IT? COVERAGES OFFERED

Commercial truck insurance is like commercial auto insurance, but it’s designed to insure trucks rather than cars.

Most businesses in Vermont that have at least one commercially registered truck need commercial truck insurance.

• Liability Coverage
• Physical Damage Coverage
• Truck Cargo Coverage

What is Commercial Truck Insurance?

Whether hauling cargo across several states or delivering packages to the other side of town, commercial trucking businesses are exposed to several potential perils. There are truck accidents every day, and they can be costly. Commercial trucking insurance gives trucking businesses in Vermont a way to protect themselves from many of the perils they face.

Commercial truck insurance is like commercial auto insurance, but it’s designed to insure trucks rather than cars. Commercial truck policies may be used to insure box trucks, dump trucks, hazmat trucks, 18-wheelers, and almost any other type of commercial truck. In some cases, they may even cover pick-up trucks that are driven for commercial purposes.

What Coverages Do Commercial Trucking Insurance Policies Provide?

As is the case with other insurance policies, the coverages that commercial trucking insurance policies offer vary. Nevertheless, there are some common coverages that many policies include. A few common coverages are:

Liability Coverage, which may provide protection against damage and injuries that a company’s driver is found responsible for

Physical Damage Coverage, which might provide protection for a company’s truck

Truck Cargo Coverage, which may cover cargo while it’s in a truck

Unidentified Trailer Coverage (or Interchange Coverage), which might extend protection to trailers that a company doesn’t own or lease

Underinsured and Uninsured Motorists Coverage, which is used to protect companies from drivers who don’t carry adequate auto insurance

What Vermont Businesses Should Consider Commercial Truck Insurance?

Most businesses in Vermont that have at least one commercially registered truck need commercial truck insurance. For instance, a lumber mill in Ludlow, VT, tow truck service in Manchester, VT, long-haul company based in Brattleboro, VT, and regional transporter in Stowe, VT all should likely have a commercial truck policy. A few other examples of businesses that may be required to purchase or benefit from getting a policy include:

Commercial contractors that have dump trucks

Garbage collection businesses

Car haulers and transporters

Farm-based co-ops that deliver food locally via boxed truck

Any businesses that have tractor-trailers

Are There Different Kinds of Cargo Coverage?

Almost anything that’s transported by a truck is considered cargo, including everything from fuel and hazardous materials to consumer products and lumber. Cars may be considered cargo when they’re on a tow truck, and even garbage in a garbage truck is frequently classified as cargo.

Because trucking businesses transport so many different kinds of cargo, insurance companies offer several different kinds of cargo insurance. Trucking companies should work with their insurance agent to find a policy that has cargo insurance designed for the type of cargo they haul.

How Are Commercial Trucking Insurance Premiums Calculated?

Insurers take into account lots of factors when calculating the premiums for a commercial trucking policy. Some of the factors they may consider are:

Who will be driving the insured trucks

Whether the drivers have advanced training or certifications

Whether the trucks will be driven in construction sites where hard hats are required

How many miles the trucks will be driven

Whether the trucks will transport heavy equipment or hazardous material

Whether the trucks will be operated only in Vermont or other states as well

How Can Trucking Businesses Get Commercial Truck Insurance?

Businesses in Vermont that need commercial trucking insurance should contact an independent, commercial insurance agent in the state. An independent agent can help a company determine precisely what coverages it needs, and they can compare policies from different insurers to find one that offers those exact coverages.