Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

California commercial drivers face a number of risks on the road, including accidents, severe weather and equipment breakdowns. Trucking insurance can help cover carriers and drivers from these losses, but it can be easy to overlook another common risk—lost or damaged cargo. This is where motor truck cargo insurance comes into play. Contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. for your complete commercial auto insurance.

Because for-hire transporters don’t own the cargo they carry, standard trucking liability policies may not provide the coverage you need if anything happens to freight while it’s in transit. And since cargo can be extremely valuable, you could be responsible for expensive losses and damage relationships with your clients.

All transporters should consider motor truck cargo insurance to cover their liability for the goods they carry. The FMCSA also requires vehicles to have cargo insurance for interstate commerce, and other federal and state laws may also apply.

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance Details

Motor truck cargo insurance covers all of the liability for goods in transit if they’re lost or damaged due to events such as fires, crashes or collisions. These policies may also compensate you for charges such as removing debris from public roads, preventing further damage to cargo and legal defense costs.

Because the price for cargo can vary significantly, the premiums and coverage limits for cargo insurance is largely dependent on the cargo itself. When buying a policy, insurers usually determine the cost based on the specific trucking operation, the number of vehicles used and the type of cargo. However, it’s also possible to purchase blanket coverage that’s priced based on gross revenue. This can be especially helpful when carriers need to use large fleets to complete an order or if cargo needs to switch between different vehicles frequently.

Working with Clients

One of the most important topics when considering motor truck cargo insurance is the party that actually owns the goods you’ll be transporting. Your clients may require you to purchase this coverage as part of your contract to protect their own interests, and any unexpected losses can severely damage your business’s reputation and relationship.

Before you buy a motor truck cargo insurance policy, you should work with your clients to agree on a mutual value for the cargo. If any goods are damaged in transport and your policy doesn’t provide you with enough coverage, you could still be responsible for the remaining costs. You should also ensure that all of the client’s cargo declarations are accurate, since any significant errors could lead insurers to deny a claim.

Evaluating Your Insurance Needs

Cargo insurance can be invaluable for any motor carrier and driver, as can other forms of coverage. Contact us at 209-634-2929 to look into other policies that can protect your business or to get more information on our trucking-specific resources.

GDI Trucking Insurance Agency Inc. Cost Savings Benefits

GDI Insurance Agency’s Tools Will Put You in the Driver’s Seat!

Our agency can help you build solid loss control and safety programs to help you stay on top of your biggest risk management and compliance challenges.

Workplace Safety Programs

Our transportation insurance industry safety manual and employee safety resources can provide your place of business with useful injury prevention information.

Compliance and Recordkeeping

You are responsible for complying with regulations from OSHA, DOT and more. Let us show you how to do so correctly.

Managing Risks

We have the risk management expertise to help you plan and control resources and activities in order to cost-effectively fulfill your objectives.

Building a Safety Culture

Our employee safety materials help you promote a safety-minded workplace. We have flyers, posters, payroll stuffers on such topics as hazardous material handling, defensive driving, obeying traffic controls, etc.

DOT/FMCSA Compliance

We have reference materials, forms and checklists that will help you remain in compliance with DOT/FMCSA regulations.

Prevent Fatalities. DOT Compliance. Employee Safety.

 GDI Insurance Agency, Your Transportation Partner

Common Exclusions of Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Since cargo insurance is so common, policies are usually available for a wide variety of operations and cargo. However, most policies will exclude coverage for the following:

• Any goods kept in a transporter’s warehouse for over 72 hours
• Shipping containers
• These types of vehicles:
  • Garbage trucks
  • Passenger vehicles such as buses and limousines
  • Hearses
• These types of cargo:
  • Art
  • Jewelry
  • Money
  • Paper
  • Animals
  • Contraband
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Explosives
  • Radioactive material

GDI Helpful Trucking Information

Our Transportation Insurance Tools Will Put You in the Driver’s Seat!

Our agency can help you build solid loss control and safety programs to help you stay on top of your biggest risk management and compliance challenges, such as:

OSHA Compliance Program for Transportation

Does your broker provide you with timely updates on new and revised OSHA regulations?

OSHA constantly updates its standards and requirements, and even a single update can drastically impact the construction industry and your regular operations. We can provide you with attorney-reviewed documents that outline your obligations, making it easy for you to focus on your transportation business instead of complicated OSHA rules.

Does your Transportation business comply with OSHA’s hazard communication standards?

Drivers often have to work with or around hazardous substances, and even one incident can lead to serious injuries and costly fines. Our clients have access to transportation-specific toolbox talks and articles, as well as workplace posters and hazard communication programs that can ensure your business is compliant with OSHA standards.

Learn About the GDI Client Philosophy!

If You Think This Sounds Too Good To Be True, Here Is What Just A Few Of Our Clients Have To Say about their Insurance:

GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. Your Trusted Business Insurance Experts

As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.

We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive cargo insurance quote!