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High-Risk Commercial Truck Insurance Options

Getting proper commercial insurance coverage is one of the most essential steps in starting a trucking business. The trouble is that many truck drivers struggle to get good coverage due to having high-risk profiles.

If you fall into the high-risk category, don’t worry. You can still take various options to secure the right insurance coverage for your business. We’ll explore some of these options below.

What is High-Risk Commercial Truck Insurance?

High-risk commercial truck insurance is a type of insurance specifically designed for trucking companies or owner-operators who are considered to have a higher risk of accidents or insurance claims than the average in the industry.

This type of insurance is necessary because the nature of the trucking business, with large and heavy vehicles on the road, poses inherent risks.

Here are some of the main factors that contribute to giving truck drivers a high-risk status:

Driving History: Trucking companies or drivers with a history of accidents, traffic violations, or other driving-related issues may be considered high-risk.

Cargo: Transporting hazardous materials, highly valuable cargo, or other specialized freight can increase the risk associated with the operation and may require specialized coverage.

Operating in High-Risk Areas: Trucking in regions with challenging road conditions, severe weather, or high traffic congestion can increase the likelihood of accidents and insurance claims.

New Ventures: New trucking businesses without a proven track record may be categorized as high-risk until they establish a history of safe operations.

High Mileage: Companies or drivers covering a significant number of miles each year may face higher risks simply due to the increased exposure to potential accidents.

Vehicle Size and Type: Larger and heavier trucks pose a greater risk on the road, and their insurance costs can reflect that increased risk.

High-risk commercial truck insurance is tailored to address these elevated risks. It typically offers liability coverage (damage to others), physical damage to the truck and cargo, medical payments, and other potential liabilities arising from commercial truck accidents or incidents.

Premiums for high-risk truck insurance are often higher than for standard policies because insurers must account for the increased likelihood of claims.

High-Risk Commercial Truck Insurance Options

Getting the right high-risk commercial truck insurance policy can be tricky. Many insurers are wary of dealing with high-risk candidates. However, various high-risk insurance companies do exist and they offer various solutions to match the needs of drivers and trucking businesses.

Here are some high-risk insurance options to consider:

Specialized High-Risk Insurers

Some insurance companies specialize in providing coverage for high-risk commercial trucking operations. These insurers may be more willing to work with businesses or drivers with a history of accidents or violations.

Many well-known insurance providers offer specialized high-risk policies to ensure they can offer coverage to all truck drivers.

Non-standard Insurance Providers

Non-standard insurance providers are another option for high-risk trucking. They cater to drivers or companies with a challenging risk profile.

While premiums may be higher, they can offer coverage when traditional insurers decline. These policies are often best for high-risk candidates who want to ensure they still get maximum coverage.

Assigned Risk Pools

Some states have assigned risk pools or state-run insurance programs for high-risk commercial trucking.

These programs are designed to ensure that every trucking company has access to insurance coverage, even if they are deemed high-risk. If you’re a high-risk truck driver, then be sure to check to see if assigned risk pools are available in your state.

Increased Deductibles

Consider opting for higher deductibles on your policy. While this means you’ll pay more out of pocket in the event of a claim, it can help lower your premium costs.

This is not necessarily a high-risk insurance policy type. Still, it is an option for candidates with a more significant risk profile. Commercial trucking insurance companies will often be more willing to take on higher-risk candidates if they’re happy with increased deductibles.

Risk Management

Maybe you’re struggling to find an insurance provider willing to take you on. While you can’t necessarily reduce your risk profile or history, you can actively work on making yourself more appealing to insurers.

Implementing a robust risk management program can demonstrate to insurers that you are actively working to reduce risk. This may include driver safety training, regular vehicle maintenance, and other safety measures.

Cargo Insurance

If your high-risk status is related to the type of cargo you transport (e.g., hazardous materials), consider purchasing specialized cargo insurance to cover potential losses or accidents involving the load.

Fleet Safety Programs

Implementing a comprehensive safety program focusing on accident prevention can help improve your risk profile over time. Insurers may offer lower premiums to companies with strong safety records.

Telematics and Tracking

Installing telematics devices and vehicle tracking systems can help monitor driver behavior and vehicle performance, reducing the risk of accidents and insurance claims. In fact, many commercial insurance providers offer these devices to help make their policies more flexible.

Financial Responsibility Bonds

Sometimes, you may need to obtain a financial responsibility bond to meet minimum insurance requirements. This bond ensures that you can cover potential liabilities in case of an accident.

Consult with an Insurance Broker

An insurance broker with experience in commercial trucking can help you find suitable coverage options, even in high-risk situations. They can shop around and negotiate on your behalf to find the best rates.

Conclusion

Finding high-risk commercial truck insurance may be difficult, but it’s far from impossible. Ensure you understand your high-risk trucking insurance options before searching for the right insurance company and planning to meet your needs.

If you’re looking for trucking insurance to purchase a vehicle, you’ll likely need to secure the best commercial truck financing for your needs. Contact Mission Financial; we can help even high-risk candidates secure the funding they need to purchase a semi-truck.

Semi-Truck Christmas Decoration Ideas

The holidays are around the corner. The festive season is the busiest time for most truckers as retail and grocery deliveries increase nationwide. But just because you’ll likely be on the road during this season doesn’t mean you should miss the holiday fun.

You can participate in the holiday cheer by decorating your truck with various semi-truck Christmas decorations. Here are a few semi-truck Christmas decoration ideas to help you get into the festive spirit and bring the warmth of the holidays wherever you go.

Best Semi-Truck Christmas Decoration Ideas

First things first, you need to clean your semi-truck before you consider decorating it. This will give you an idea of how much space you have to work with. It will also improve the appearance of your semi-truck and make your Christmas decorations pop. The decorations will also hold up longer when placed on a clean surface.

To prep your truck, remove any leftover debris, like food wrappers and empty drink containers, before wiping or washing all interior and exterior surfaces. Once your vehicle is ready for a festive makeover, choose an idea below and give it a personal touch.

Decorating Inside

Pick a holiday theme for your truck’s interior and spruce up the entire place as you would your home. You can go with fresh greenery, hand-made décor, or an intricate combination of both. Generally, the more customized your decorations are, the more cheerful, relaxing, and closer to home they’ll feel. Here are a few fun ideas to inspire you.

Get Holiday-themed Mats and Seat Covers

Embrace the season by getting holiday-themed seat covers, mats, blankets, and pillows. Go for the regular red and white Santa colors, festive greens, or detailed plaid patterns. They’ll introduce the joy of the season into your semi-truck.

You can also hang Christmas stockings with ribbons on the sides of the bed in your sleeper area. Have them customized with your names or those of your loved ones to make your truck feel like an extension of your home.

Also, create extra sparkle on your stockings and make them unique with a few tassels and a tiny spiral evergreen shrub. These are easy to find at your local decor shop; setting them up takes a few minutes.

Most long-haul drivers prefer hanging customized stockings on the sides of their seats or the passenger’s seat. Usually, they’ll add candy cane posts with a twisted texture and small gifts in the stocking to delight in the giving nature of the season.

Light it Up

Nothing screams Christmas-is-here more than lights arranged in various shapes and patterns. There are two main ways to introduce the Christmas glow into your semi-truck:

Adding the traditional string lights: String lights bring your semi-truck from zero to festive within a few steps. They work well around the cab, windows, and the sleeper area. You’ll need a power inverter for them to work, though. So make sure you have everything set up correctly.

Adding LED light strips: If you don’t have a power inverter, use LED light strips instead. Most run on li-on batteries and don’t require an inverter. They also have adhesive backs and are easy to apply or set up. Removing them after the festive season is equally easy as you can peel them off without damaging your truck.

If you’re not a fan of string lights running through your cab, find glass lanterns and fill them with LED twinkle lights. Then, place them on a surface in your sleeper berth or hang them on the side “walls.” You’ll still experience the warm glow of the season this way.

Add Boughs of Holly

Bring the tranquility and freshness of nature into your truck with December’s birth flower – the evergreen holly plant. You can create boughs of holly in varying shapes and sizes, then place them on different surfaces in your truck. When doing this, let your imagination run wild.

Mix the holly with other flowers to create perfect floral arrangements running from one end of your surfaces to the other. It could be your dashboard or the kitchen section.

You can also make classic holiday wreath centerpieces with holly, golden-colored pine cones and well-tied ribbons. These look great on stand-out plain sections in your sleeper berth.

Mix Greens and Glitter

Combine your green holly decorations with shiny metallic garland. It adds a touch of glam to your space and makes it jolly.

If you prefer, switch things up and have fresh green garland mixed with holly berries running through your cab, window, or sleeper area. Some drivers use these as their surface for string lights. They wrap the lights around the garland before letting it run through the truck like a string moving from corner to corner.

You can also have the garland and lights around the door of the sleeper section or let them drape over a hanging gift basket in one or more corners of your truck. Just ensure they don’t block your view when driving.

Most drivers love the scent of fresh all-green garlands inside their trucks, but if you’d rather not have this, go for faux leaves or paper garlands. Fake garland leaves are easy to find in your local décor store or Amazon.

Take the DIY route for paper garlands to create the most unique designs. You’ll need paper, various watercolors, or paint and brushes, but the effort will be worth it. Make this a fun family activity to bond with your loved ones and create the perfect home-away-from-home environment with hand-made décor from the family.

Use Christmas Ornaments

Christmas ornaments are a staple semi-truck Christmas decoration for truckers. They are budget-friendly and can pass as great gifts to fellow truck drivers.

Most semi-truck ornaments are also a low-key way to create the holiday mood and often last for years. They are the go-to Christmas decorations for company drivers who can’t go all out on their truck Christmas décor due to restrictions from their employers.

Semi-truck ornaments include small tractor-trailer models you can place on your dashboard or hang on the roof of your cab. You could also get 3D images of your truck engraved in star-shaped porcelain and hang them visibly in the driver’s area.

There’s also the DIY option, where you can create several Christmas ornaments using materials available in your home and local art shops. You may, for instance, create snow globes using glass jars, bottle brushes, fake snow, and glitters. Or craft 3D felt ornaments using festive green, white, and splashes of red holiday colors.

Put Up A Christmas Tree

Yes, you can put up a Christmas tree inside your truck. It won’t be the same as the Christmas tree in your home, but it can still jazz up your space and complete your festive look.

Here are a few simple ideas to set up a tree with Christmas ornaments inside your truck:

Christmas card tree: Display your cards as a tree to form a Christmas card tree. It will look great on one of the walls in your sleeper berth (preferably the one closest to your bed). The size of your Christmas card tree will depend on the number of cards you get.

If you have too many cards, tie a few fresh green pine garlands to a wooden hanger and clip your extra cards on the greens to display them on a different wall. Ensure it’s within reach so you can continue adding more cards as they arrive throughout the season.

Dashboard Christmas tree: Get a dashboard Christmas tree to place on your dashboard. They resemble a tabletop tree but are way smaller. Alternatively, you can find a small twig tree and add hand-crafted décor to make it special.

Decorating Outside

On the outside, go all in on the trailer’s sides but easy on the front and back sides. Avoid placing bright lights or lights that can mess with your truck’s signal lights because it will confuse other drivers and may cause havoc. It could also be against the law in your state and might land you in trouble.

So make sure you check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to confirm your city’s truck decorations rules before proceeding. You may also want to check with your insurance provider to ensure you are on the same page. Most insurers consider external truck Christmas décor a modification that invalidates your cover.

Large ribbons, floral wreaths, or simple holiday messages will do for the front (on the truck grill) and back parts.

But on the sides, free the creative artist in you and work with lights and evergreen garlands. The more the merrier, provided your truck can handle it. You don’t want to run down your battery’s power prematurely with too many lights. To save energy and avoid being on the wrong side of the law, consider having these lights on at strategic times only.

You can also put smiles on the faces of those who see you driving by telling a story with conspicuous Christmas figures like Santa, elves, and reindeer with glitter antlers or noses. Include cheerful holiday messages, too. This space is your canvas; use it to spread holiday love and joy throughout this wonderful time of the year.

Final Thoughts

Decorating your truck for Christmas is different from decorating for other holidays like Halloween. Halloween has an air of mystery, but Christmas is all about merry-making – the brighter, the better.

Even so, always put your safety and the safety of other road users first. Stay away from decorations that block your view when driving or stand in the way of other drivers. Also, steer clear of dangerous decorations like candles. They are a fire hazard in your truck.

If you’re looking for holiday gifts for friends and family who love trucking, go for Christmas ornaments with engraved personal messages. They’ll appreciate the gesture and can reuse the decorations year after year.

For more gift suggestions, check out our blog. We have several gift ideas for truckers to help you celebrate these unsung heroes who keep our country moving.

How To Avoid Commercial Truck Accidents

Commercial truck accidents are one of the biggest risks of running a trucking business. Even the most experienced commercial truck drivers can get caught up in an accident, so it’s essential to be alert at all times and aware of all possible accident causes.

While you never know what lies ahead when operating a truck, drivers must be prepared for all possible scenarios. To help you out, this guide explores some of the key causes of commercial truck accidents and how to avoid them.

How to Avoid Commercial Truck Accidents as a Driver

You can never predict when a commercial truck accident will take place. However, as a truck driver, you must do everything you can to prevent these accidents.

Here are some of the most important steps and considerations to avoid minor or fatal truck accidents.

Regular Maintenance

The most critical step in avoiding truck accidents is to make sure your vehicle is in good running condition. 10% of truck accidents result from vehicle errors, so ensuring your vehicle is taken care of will immediately reduce any risk of an accident.

Ensure that the commercial trucks are well-maintained. Regular inspections, maintenance, and repairs will help prevent mechanical failures that could lead to accidents.

Be sure to check all common issues before each truck journey. This includes looking for bad shocks, fuel filter issues, a bad starter, or faulty brakes. Keep your truck’s tire pressure at the right level, maintain correct oil levels, and pay attention to any strange noises or movements coming from the truck.

If you experience anything unusual, report this to a mechanic or take the truck in for maintenance. Not only will fixing issues early on help you avoid more significant accidents, but it can also be cheaper in the long-term maintenance of your vehicle.

Beyond the regular checks a truck driver should perform, you must never miss a service. Regularly servicing the truck will help you detect any possible issues that could result in accidents.

Secure Your Load

Truck accident statistics show that the cargo causes a large portion of accidents. Truck drivers must ensure their cargo is secured correctly and safely handled to avoid any cargo-related accidents.

Improperly secured cargo can shift, causing loss of control and accidents. The truck driver must understand the cargo they are transporting and how best to manage it. Some difficult types of cargo even require special licenses and training – ensure you are equipped with this if it applies.

When driving on multi-day trips, always check the cargo at the start and end of each day. Cargo can often shift around during long days on the road, so staying on top of it can play a significant role in avoiding truck crashes.

Driver Training

Of course, most truck accidents happen as a result of poor driving. You must have a good driver behind the wheel to avoid truck accidents.

Employ qualified and trained drivers who understand the unique challenges of driving commercial trucks. Provide ongoing training to keep their skills up-to-date.

The best way to minimize the risk of truck crashes is to use a driver with plenty of experience in the route, experience with the vehicle, and experience with the cargo they’re hauling. The longer the driver has had their commercial driver’s license (CDL), the better.

While gaining experience takes time, younger drivers can improve their odds against truck crashes with ongoing training. Consistently keeping up to date with best practices in truck driving safety is essential.

Drivers can also enroll in short courses to improve their truck driving skills and knowledge for different scenarios. For example, you could take a short course in driving in the snow or a course in driving vehicles that carry abnormal loads to better equip yourself with different types of commercial truck driving.

Vehicle Knowledge

Following on from the point above, many commercial truck accidents happen when the driver is unfamiliar with handling the vehicle.

A critical step in avoiding fatal crashes is gaining plenty of experience in the specific type of truck you’re driving. Understand the gross vehicle weight rating, know the total vehicle miles, and get accustomed to the tractor-trailer setup. The better truck operators know their vehicle and how to handle it, the easier it will be to avoid large truck crashes.

Hours of Service

Even the most knowledgeable and experienced truck operators can cause fatal crashes if they’re overly tired. Long-haul truck drivers need to get enough rest when driving their routes.

Always adhere to hours of service regulations to prevent driver fatigue. Make regular use of truck stops, and know when you need rest.

A significant number of commercial truck accident statistics result from fatigue. So, getting enough rest is essential if you’re driving a large truck. Not only does this protect the truck driver, but it protects any other passenger vehicles on the road. This is why national highway traffic safety places so much emphasis on truck drivers resting when necessary.

Avoid Distracted Driving

Drivers must stay focused on the road and avoid distractions like cell phones or other electronic devices. Fatal crashes can easily occur when the truck driver takes their eyes off the road for only a moment.

As a truck driver, you must always keep this in mind and practice absolute vigilance when driving.
Speed Management
This is another basic rule for truck driving, but it significantly reduces fatal crashes. fatal crashes.

Always follow speed limits and adjust speed based on road conditions, weather, and traffic. Speeding is a common cause of commercial truck accidents, but it’s an easy issue to avoid.

Even if you’re driving behind schedule, sticking to the speed limit can help you get your cargo to its destination safely – which is more important than getting there quickly.

Safe Following Distance

Always maintain a safe following distance from other vehicles. Commercial trucks require more time to stop due to their size and weight, so large trucks must keep their distance from other passenger vehicles.
Fatal truck crashes often result from drivers not having enough time to stop. So, keep your distance, and you’ll be a far safer driver.

Weather Awareness

While the weather is beyond your control, anyone driving a large truck needs to understand how to drive in different weather conditions.

Always check the weather report before taking to the road, and be prepared for different weather conditions. Slow down and exercise extra caution in adverse weather conditions like rain, snow, or fog.

Defensive Driving

Train drivers to anticipate the actions of other drivers and be prepared to react appropriately. This can help avoid collisions caused by other drivers’ mistakes.

The truck driver doesn’t always cause commercial truck accidents. Instead, negligence may be due to passenger vehicle drivers. However, when trucks get involved in fatal crashes, the situation becomes a lot worse.

Large truck occupants need to know how to react swiftly to other vehicles on the road. Taking a defensive driving course is always a good idea for commercial drivers.

Avoid Aggressive Driving

Being a truck driver can get frustrating, but drivers must always stay calm and collected on the road.

Avoid any aggressive driving behaviors such as tailgating, road rage, and abrupt lane changes. Crashes involving large trucks are often caused by these brief moments of aggression – which can quickly turn into a fatal accident.

Use Mirrors

Any large truck occupants need to make the most out of their mirrors.

Make proper use of mirrors to be aware of the surroundings. Blind spots are larger for commercial trucks, so use mirrors to stay informed. Always double-check the mirror, even if you think the road is clear.

Observe Traffic Signs

Another obvious one is that road signs are there to keep truck drivers safe. As driving a large truck is a different experience, truck drivers must closely monitor road signs that relate to them.

Follow all traffic rules and signs, including weight limits, height restrictions, and other commercial vehicle-specific regulations. Of course, drivers also need to understand their truck’s height and weight before setting out on a journey.

Conclusion

Knowing how to avoid commercial truck accidents is essential to being a truck driver. Always be aware of the common accident causes and be alert about how to avoid them. This is one of the most critical functions of anyone operating a large truck.

Looking to purchase a semi-truck for your business? Get in touch with us at Mission Financial Services where we help all kinds of truck drivers acquire commercial vehicle financing, regardless of credit score.

All About Third-Party Commercial Vehicle Insurance

If you use vehicles to operate your business, one of the best things you can do to thrive is to get third-party commercial vehicle insurance.

Third-party commercial auto insurance policy offers excellent financial protection for your business. It minimizes significant financial losses due to unpredictable events when your business vehicles are on the road. This type of commercial vehicle insurance policy is also very affordable, so the costs of your business operations remain low.

Here is everything you need to know about third-party commercial auto insurance.

What Is Third-Party Commercial Vehicle Insurance?

Third-party business vehicle insurance is basic liability coverage for commercial motor vehicles. It covers losses, including property damage and bodily injury to third parties only (not you) if your business vehicles cause an accident.

It’s different from comprehensive insurance, which offers personal injury protection and collision coverage for your vehicles, even if you are the at-fault party in an accident.
‘Third party’ often refers to external entities involved in the accident and not associated with your company. This may be people or businesses.

How Does Third-Party Commercial Auto Insurance Policy Work?

Suppose you have third-party commercial auto insurance coverage for your business vehicles, and one of these vehicles is involved in an accident that causes harm to others and damage to their property. In that case, those affected individuals can take legal action to seek compensation for the injuries and property damage they’ve suffered.

In such a situation, your insurance provider will step in to cover the costs associated with the property damage and injuries sustained by the victims.

You won’t have to pay a dime out-of-pocket unless the claim made exceeds your business vehicle coverage limits. In such a scenario, you’ll pay for the amount above your commercial vehicle policy limit. Still, commercial vehicle insurance companies cover a chunk of the total cost needed to compensate victims of commercial vehicle accidents.

In addition to bodily injury and property damage compensation, your insurance provider covers your legal expenses throughout the lawsuit. A third-party commercial auto insurance cover ultimately saves your business from substantial financial losses in claim settlements and legal fees after an accident.

What Coverage Options Does Third-party Insurance Policy Provide?

Third-party commercial auto insurance policy offers two major types of liability coverage:

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Bodily injury commercial auto coverage includes medical payments coverage, where the insurance company covers the medical bills of third parties injured during the accident. These may be occupants of other vehicles involved in the accident or non-occupants like motorcyclists and pedestrians. Insurance providers also cover funeral expenses for third parties who lose their lives.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

Property damage liability insurance covers physical damages to others’ property in an accident. Third-party property damages extend beyond the damage to the injured victims’ cars and might include buildings nearby that get damaged as a result of your accident.

Insurance providers offer physical damage liability coverage through replacement costs settlements or actual cash value settlements.

Who Needs Third-Party Commercial Vehicle Insurance?

You need third-party commercial auto coverage if you own or lease vehicles and use them for business operations. It’s the basic business liability coverage legally required in most states. Most states set specific minimum liability coverage limits you must meet for bodily injury and property damage compensation, affecting your commercial auto insurance cost.

You are also required, by law, to get business auto insurance for your vehicles if you transport goods or people from state to state. You may need commercial truck insurance for larger commercial vehicles, like semi-trucks.

Accidents involving larger commercial vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, are often more severe than those involving other business autos. Regular commercial car insurance, therefore, may not provide adequate coverage for your large commercial vehicles.

Note that additional specialized coverage is mandatory if you use your business-owned vehicles for the following business purposes:

Transporting hazardous materials
Delivering food
Offering taxi services

Further, the law requires all vehicles registered as commercial vehicles and those with a commercial license tag to have a commercial auto insurance policy. These may include:

Hired passenger-type vehicles to transport people.
Pick-up trucks that have a permanently attached camper
Station wagons
Multipurpose vehicles

You may also benefit from a third-party business auto insurance policy if you use your private vehicle for work-related errands like shopping for office supplies. Most personal auto policies don’t cover bodily injury or property damage incurred when using your private vehicle for business purposes.

Should You Finance Your Truck and Get Insurance?

Insurance is mandatory. Business vehicle owners require the minimum third-party commercial car insurance to operate in all states except Virginia and New Hampshire. Yet, purchasing commercial auto insurance in these states is still advisable.

On the other hand, financing your truck is a personal preference. We recommend it because it’s an affordable way to start or grow your business. This is especially true if you partner with expert truck financing institutions like Mission Financial Services.

Typically, the two go hand in hand. Most commercial vehicle loan lenders require that you purchase commercial auto insurance if they finance your truck.

Other Reasons To Consider Getting Commercial Auto Insurance

A commercial auto insurance policy helps you run your business at ease. It reduces the uncertainty of dealing with the risks your business autos are exposed to.

Business insurance promotes a steady cash flow. You can write off the insurance as a business expense and plan for your finances accordingly.

Liability Insurance saves you money. You avoid hefty financial penalties by complying with all statutory and contractual requirements. You also save thousands to millions of dollars when commercial auto insurance covers medical payments, property damage, and legal expenses during a claim.

You get a no-claim bonus discount if you want to renew your vehicle insurance at the end of a policy period and are yet to face a claim. This reduces your business costs.

Commercial vehicle insurance also offers some relief to injured victims. Medical payments, in particular, lift the financial burden of medical expenses, allowing those injured to focus on getting better.

Final Thoughts

When purchasing a commercial auto policy for your business autos, compare commercial auto insurance quotes from multiple providers. You’ll find a good insurance company with the most competitive rates this way.

You should get help from a qualified insurance agent. They’ll evaluate your business’s needs, type of business autos, and frequency of use, among other factors, to help you to help you afford optimal coverage. The best agent can also guide you step-by-step through the claims process whenever an accident occurs.

For more information on commercial vehicle insurance coverage options and their costs, hop over to Mission Financial Services and read our blog.

Top High-Risk Commercial Truck Insurance Companies

High-risk truck insurance can be tricky to secure. Although getting a good insurance plan is essential for a truck driver, finding the right insurer can also be challenging if you don’t meet all the ideal conditions.

Not only this, but many insurance companies who do accept high-risk drivers will charge a lot extra. And as you probably know, expensive insurance premiums can make a serious dent in your trucking business’s finances.

So, how do you know which high-risk commercial truck insurance companies are best to use?

In this guide, we’ll break down some of the best options for high-risk truck insurance.

High-Risk Commercial Truck Insurance Companies

Having the right high-risk truck insurance is vital if you run a trucking company. Commercial trucking is a high-risk industry, so having a reliable commercial truck insurance provider on your side is essential.

While your specific trucking insurance policy depends on your situation, here are some of the best high-risk commercial truck insurance companies to consider.

Progressive Commercial

Progressive Commercial is a major insurance provider known for offering various commercial truck insurance options, including coverage for high-risk drivers and businesses.

The insurance company offers various coverage options for commercial truck drivers. Whether you’re looking to cover a fleet or are an independent owner-operator, Progressive offers commercial truck insurance premiums and plans that can cover your needs.

The Hartford

The Hartford specializes in commercial insurance and has a strong reputation for providing coverage to high-risk businesses, including those in the trucking industry.

While there are many insurance companies, The Hartford stands out as one of the top options for commercial truck insurance. Their flexible policies can match the specific needs of any trucking business. Of course, their coverage for high-risk commercial truck insurance is solid.

Evolution Insurance Brokers

This commercial truck insurance company provides solutions for all kinds of trucks and business purposes. Evolution Insurance includes customizable options to meet the insurer’s specific needs.

From short-haul to long-haul trucking, auto liability, trailer interchange covers, and much more, this is one of the most extensive insurance providers for the commercial trucking industry.

Nationwide Insurance

If you’re looking for commercial truck insurance policies, then you’re bound to come across Nationwide Insurance. This is one of the most popular and reputable commercial truck insurance companies.

Nationwide offers commercial truck insurance, including options for high-risk drivers and businesses, focusing on customizable coverage. Their commercial truck insurance works for businesses of all sizes, with varying coverage and vehicle needs.

GEICO Commercial

GEICO, a well-known insurance company, also offers commercial truck insurance solutions, including coverage for high-risk situations.

This is one of the more prominent insurance companies out there, so you can be sure they have coverage available to match your specific needs. Whether you’re an owner-operator or manage a large fleet, trucking companies can use GEICO Commercial for their insurance coverage.

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies

This insurer provides commercial auto insurance and may consider high-risk applicants, particularly those with a history of accidents or violations. As one of the major insurance companies, they offer a wide range of coverage options for trucking businesses.

Liberty Mutual

Liberty Mutual offers a variety of commercial insurance products, including coverage for high-risk commercial trucking operations.

This major insurance provider offers a wide range of insurance plans, including general liability insurance, bodily injury insurance, physical damage coverage, comprehensive coverage for trucks, and more.

Zurich North America

Zurich is a global insurance provider that offers commercial truck insurance solutions for a range of businesses, including high-risk ones.

Their Motor Truck Cargo (MTC) program offers MTC coverage to “for hire” common and contract motor carriers. If you’re looking for a versatile and flexible truck insurance provider, then this may be a good option to consider.

AIG

AIG is another international insurer that provides commercial truck insurance coverage, and they may consider high-risk applicants.

If you operate commercial trucks, AIG should offer a good range of coverage solutions. The company offers flexible insurance coverage options to meet your specific business needs. Their truck insurance is more suitable for experienced truck drivers and companies, although there are options for more high-risk cases.

AmTrust Financial Services

AmTrust provides insurance solutions to small and mid-sized businesses, including high-risk commercial trucking operations. While most other insurance companies prefer to cover drivers with plenty of experience, AmTrust is available for trucking companies with varying levels of experience.

Their truck insurance is ideal for local areas or truckers who travel the entire country. They insure all fleet sizes and all types of trucking businesses – making AmTrust an ideal choice for those looking for high-risk commercial truck insurance.

Great American Insurance Group

Great American Insurance Group is a leading commercial truck insurance provider in the US. This company focuses on long-haul trucking and specializes in service to owner-operators.

Great American Insurance Group offers a range of insurance products, including commercial truck insurance, and may consider high-risk applicants. Whether you’re looking to protect your truck against physical damage or looking for non-trucking liability, contingent liability, or more, this company has a wide range of commercial insurance solutions to match your needs.

Conclusion

These are some of the best high-risk truck insurance companies out there. However, finding the right commercial truck insurance is subjective.

Policies and premiums can differ for each applicant, and so can the weight of risk that different insurance companies place on you.

The best option is to gather quotes from different commercial truck insurance providers and compare your options. This will help you find the most suitable insurance plan for your trucking business.

Other than insuring your vehicle, finding financing for your commercial truck can also be a tricky process. We make it easy at Mission Financial Services, where we help all kinds of truck drivers with all levels of risk secure the funding they need to purchase a semi-truck. Get in touch today to see how we can help you.

What Different Jobs Do Commercial Truck Drivers Do?

Understanding the different jobs commercial truck drivers do is essential, especially if you’re looking to build a solid career in the trucking industry.

There are several types of commercial truck drivers. Each has different tasks depending on the truck driven, goods hauled, and distance traveled.

We’ve prepared this quick guide to help you understand the most common types of commercial truck driver job categories and their typical duties. We’ll also briefly discuss some requirements and skills you need to excel at various commercial truck driving jobs.

Different Types Of Commercial Truck Driving Jobs

Here are nine common types of commercial truck driver job categories you can consider pursuing:

Dry Van Haulers

Dry van trucking is one of the most traditional truck driving jobs. It involves moving well-packaged, dry goods that don’t need strict temperature control. The dry van is usually a tractor-trailer combination resembling a box with all sides enclosed but has an opening (the door) at the back.

Primary Duties

The primary duty of dry van drivers is hooking up to loaded tractor-trailers and following assigned routes to deliver goods to various destinations. They don’t load or offload the cargo, but they may have to:

Inspect cargo before leaving their pickup station to ensure everything is loaded correctly.
Handle basic mechanical problems as needed.
Manage inventory and collect signatures to verify delivery.

Requirements

As a minimum, you need a class-A commercial driver’s license to secure a job as a dry van driver. This will allow you to drive commercial motor vehicles with a wide gross weight range.

You could, for instance, drive a tractor with over 26,000 pounds and drag one trailer with over 10,000 pounds. Or drive a tractor-trailer combination with double or triple trailers ranging from 120,000 to 148,000 in total weight. Hauling double and triple trailers requires additional doubles and triple endorsement.

Freight Haulers

In freight hauling, truck drivers transport and deliver all types of cargo that dry van hauling cannot deliver. These include specialty freight such as liquids and hazardous materials. Often, freight haulers move larger loads and equipment than small packages. They can also travel over short or long distances.

Primary Duties

Overseeing freight loading to ensure freight weight limits are adhered to.
Securing the freight in place to prevent damage during transport.
Performing basic motor vehicle service checks to ensure the tractor-trailer is in good order before departure. This may include checking the oil and fluid levels plus tire pressure.

Requirements

Besides an active class A commercial driver’s license, most employers require you to have experience transporting large freight. That’s because transporting oversized cargo requires proper balancing throughout the trip.

For specific cargo, like hazardous materials, you must follow a few safety procedures to comply with all federal laws governing the transportation of hazardous materials. Here’s a detailed guide on complying with federal hazardous materials safety regulations to help you understand all the required safety procedures.

Reefer or Refrigerated Commercial Truck Drivers

As the name suggests, refrigerated or reefer commercial motor vehicle drivers haul goods that need specific temperature control. Most times, they transport perishable food items to grocery stores and restaurants.

Primary Duties

Apart from their standard driving duties, reefer tractor-trailer truck drivers are responsible for:

Ensuring their motor vehicle is always at the right temperature when transporting various goods.
Keeping their trailers clean and sanitary
Loading and unloading their tractor-trailers
Regular maintenance to fuel the cooling units and fix any refrigeration issues

Requirements

You require refrigerated trucking skills and all the skills class A CDL drivers must have. Some employers may request a specialized refrigeration certification as well for this job.

Flatbed Commercial Truck Drivers

Flatbed commercial motor vehicle drivers transport machinery and other dry products on open-air trailers. The cargo moved by flatbed drivers is usually too large or awkward and cannot fit into regular dry van trailers. These items may include lumber, steel pipes, or large tanks.

Primary Duties

Load and unload truck
Secure load with chains and tarps to prevent damage during transport
Inspect the vehicle to ensure it’s in safe working conditions before each trip
Prepare reports on cargo loads and deliveries for record-keeping
Prepare and maintain shipping documents like warehouse receipts, bills of lading, and sale
Communicate with dispatchers to get instructions on deliveries

Requirements

Because this job requires driving large trucks, you’ll have to undergo on-the-job training for about four weeks to learn how to operate flatbed trucks. This is in addition to the driving test you must pass to get your driver’s license CDL (class A) when learning to drive heavy trucks.

Most employers require a high school diploma or associate’s degree for this job. They may also assess your physical health and ability to lift and secure heavy loads since the role involves a bit of manual labor.

Tanker Commercial Truck Drivers

Tanker drivers operate trucks with liquids or gases. They transport different hazardous and non-hazardous loads, such as crude oil, diesel, gasoline, chemicals, or milk, over short and long distances.

Primary Duties

Adhering to strict safety regulations to prevent leakages
Supervise or assist in loading and unloading the tanker. This may include connecting hoses and pumps or removing utility hole covers to unload liquids into fuel tanks and other storage silos.
Maintain accurate logs of working hours and all trip activities.
Ensure the relevant staff receives the cargo and signs for their delivery.

Requirements

Tractor-trailer truck drivers require specialized training to handle tankers and the different types of loads they haul. Depending on the properties of the load you haul, you’ll need to learn how to handle various emergencies like chemical spills. You may also require special certifications, including occupational health and safety certificates, in addition to a class A commercial driver’s license (CDL).

You’ll have to follow all the dot regulations to get the required tank vehicle endorsement for operating tanker trucks. To receive this endorsement, you must pass a written knowledge test and practical exam. If hauling hazardous liquids, you must also abide by all FMCSA rules on transporting hazardous materials.

Location-to-location or Less than truckload (LTL)

LTL tractor-trailer truck drivers transport smaller loads or shipments and often make multiple trips a day. Most drivers drop several packages at various locations. Other drivers pick up or deliver packages to terminals, where they transfer the goods to other trucks, which then deliver the loads along designated routes.

Primary Duties

Safe transport of various types of goods at multiple locations daily
Load and unload trucks several times a day

Requirements

Like all other truck driving jobs, becoming an LTL truck driver requires a commercial driver’s license, but it doesn’t have to be a class A CDL. A class B CDL will do, although you’ll be limited to hauling specific types of trucks.

Most LTL drivers are company drivers, and employers require a few years of experience in a delivery position (about two years) with a clean driving record.

Local Commercial Truck Drivers

Local commercial motor vehicle truck drivers transport goods of varying sizes within their locality. They are different from regional commercial truck drivers who cover longer routes (roughly 1000 miles), even though both types of truck drivers perform almost the same duties.

Primary Duties

Local and regional tractor-trailer truck drivers must ensure their cargo remains safe and in excellent condition during transport.
Coordinate with their respective trucking companies to manage new loads effectively and transport them within specified time frames.
Local truck drivers often assist in loading and unloading cargo, whereas regional truck drivers don’t.

Requirements

Both types of commercial truck drivers require extensive knowledge of the routes they operate in. If you choose these trucking jobs, you’ll have to master the many routes in the geographical area you cover.

Over-the-road Commercial Truck Drivers

Over-the-road (OTR) truck drivers specialize in long-distance hauling. They transport goods over thousands of miles and are usually on the road for long periods.

This is one of the most lucrative trucking careers. CDL drivers earn a minimum of $78,113 annually and enjoy several benefits.

Usually, the drivers are required by law to take rest periods in transit. Because of this, some trucking companies employ team drivers to deliver time-critical cargo. Here, two drivers take turns to drive the same truck, delivering the load faster.

Primary Duties

Complying with all dot regulations, including the hours of service and gross vehicle weight restrictions.
Performing prescribed tractor-trailer inspections and documenting its working conditions before departure.
Supervising cargo loading and unloading. This includes managing inventory and getting clients’ signatures to confirm that all items were delivered in pristine condition.
Logging all trip activities, including the hours and miles driven, rest stop durations, plus fuel, repair, and toll road expenses.
Communicating delays or late deliveries due to breakdowns or accidents to dispatchers.

Requirements

Due to the long hours spent behind the wheel, you have to meet specific medical conditions to qualify for this job. You must pass vision tests and go through high blood pressure checks, among other medical tests.

Most employers may also require you to go through various skills tests before hiring you, even if you are a class A CDL driver with years of experience.

Vocational Commercial Truck Drivers

You can opt for vocational commercial truck driving, which includes tow truck drivers and drivers of garbage trunks or dump trucks.

Conclusion

The trucking industry is diverse and has several career growth opportunities. You can start out in one niche, say a dry van driver, then work your way to being an OTR driver, provided you have the required commercial driving license.

Your job security in the industry is secure if you maintain a clean driving record and possess various skills truck drivers need to succeed.

Read our guide on commercial truck driver salary expectations to estimate how much you’ll earn as a commercial truck driver. If you’re interested in buying a semi-truck and starting your own trucking business instead, contact Mission Financial Services! We’ll help finance your purchase.