Introduction
Road transport is, by far, the most important form of transport. A great deal of commodities enters the supply chain via road networks. The U.K. had 139 billion tones-km of cargo hauled across her roads (Department of Transport. 2010) compared to 250, 000, 000, 000 billion tones-km of cargo in the E.U. (International Transport Forum. 2011). Trucks and trailers play a very crucial role in road commerce and truck insurance is, therefore, a crucial element of international trade. Insurance essentially protects against losses or harm and has a long history. It was widely used in Ancient Persia and later on by the Rhodes and Ancient Athenians before it was perfected during the Renaissance. Today, insurance is a complex industry with many offshoots (Wikipedia). There are different types of truck insurance products such as primary liability that protects injury and/or damage to others result from a truck accident, motor truck cargo insurance which indemnifies against damage or loss of freight, physical damage covers repair or replacement of the vehicle parts among others. To secure an insurance cover, sign up to liability protection by paying regular premiums. These premiums are calculated according to the law of averages. The main point that distinguishes insurance firms is in customer service, terms of protection and, occasionally, premiums. The following are steps that will help you secure a truck insurance policy at favorable terms.
Step 1
Every time your policy is up for year-end negotiation seek other companies that offer quality service enabling you to have a permanent feel of going rates which is an asset every time you negotiate the rates of your premiums.
Step 2
Seek out a list of insurance brokers from the industry regulator or professional. Also keep tabs on insurance service awards to find out the very best of these brokers. Securing the services of an honest broker may not yield benefits like impartial advice, but they will give you expert advice on how to best derive value for your policy.
Step 3
Premiums are generally higher for drivers with a bad safety record. Whether you are involved in a driving accident or you get a speeding ticket, all these will reflect on your driving record and, ultimately, your insurance premiums. In addition, insurance firms are very strict about driving records. Clean records help you negotiate with reputable firms for good rates in addition to building trust. Unscrupulous firms tend not care about your record though.
Step 4
Regular inspections, labor rules and the numerous safety audits are typical for trucks. Failure to honor these obligations will incur the wrath of insurance companies who may fail to indemnify you in the event of a loss or injury to person. Furthermore, insurance companies are particular about truck inspections and are favorable in respect to compliant companies/operators.
Step 5
It is admirable to demand independence, but in business, this may cost you dearly. To minimize the size of your premium load, you could lease your truck (s) to a larger operator whose economies of scale would be a welcome relief. Other than this, you could pool trucks with friends or fellow operators and share the load of the insurance payments. The insurance service sector leans in favor of operators that do so as this will significantly lower their risk ratio.
Step 6
Hire qualified, experienced drivers. Younger less experienced drivers tend to overlook the safety policy including problems with drug and substance abuse. These are not necessarily foolproof ways of getting reprieves in when it comes to your premiums and amazing customer service, but they will prove to be helpful eventually in getting a great offer for your truck insurance needs. Whatever the case, it is entirely possible to get the very best insurance for your truck- saving on premiums while not compromising on quality is a sure way to go.
Tips
The following tips could help you to get the best insurance truck policy:
- Seek offers from various insurancetruck underwriters to ensure you get a very good deal on the policy.
- Seek services of a professional indurance broker.
- Stay on the safe side of the law.
- Hire professionally qualified drivers for your trucks.
Sources and Citations
- Department of Transport, UK(2012, n.d.) . Retrieved from http://www.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-freight-statistics-2010/
- Insurance savings (2010, n.d.) Retrieved 4th March, 2012 from thetrucker’sreport.com http://www.thetruckersreport.com/insurance-savings-article/