As a Missouri-based trucker, you are no stranger to the road. Whether you are doing local pickups and deliveries or hauling large loads across state lines, it’s important to have the right commercial coverage to offset the risks you face behind the wheel of your truck. At Ozark Legacy Insurance Partners, we offer customized trucking insurance that is underwritten with the goal of minimizing your financial vulnerability. As an independent agency, we are able to shop and compare coverage and rates to assure your trucking insurance is not only effective, but also affordable.
Missouri trucking insurance may be right for you if you own a trucking business, serve as a private carrier, or are the owner-operator of one or more:
- Semi-trucks (18-wheelers)
- Flatbed trucks
- Dump trucks
- Tow trucks
- Freight trucks
- Or other commercialized trucks
Cost of Trucking Insurance
As a business owner, you are constantly thinking about your bottom line. That includes ways you can reduce your operating costs while still achieving a good return on your investment. When it comes to trucking insurance, we here at Ozark Legacy Insurance Partners know how to find competitive rates without sacrificing the quality of your protection. After all, going bankrupt over a trucking accident lawsuit due to poor insurance coverage is not worth the negligible savings offered on a bare-bones policy’s premiums.
When you apply for coverage, it helps to know some of the factors that can affect your costs. Examples include:
- How many miles you typically drive for pickups and deliveries
- The types of cargo your business hauls
- The type of trucks you drive
- The driving records and accident histories of drivers for your fleet
- And more
Commercial Insurance for Private Trucks
If you own the trucks that service your business, you probably need commercial insurance for private trucks. This can cover your business against a wide range of potential losses, some of which may include:
- Collision and Comprehensive (Physical Damages)
- Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability
- Medical Payments
- Roadside Assistance
- And more
Motor Carrier Coverage for Owner-Operators and Lease Contractors
A large percentage of truckers are independent contractors. That means they own their own vehicles and operate on a for-hire basis. They are typically responsible for purchasing their own insurance coverage that not only protects them and their trucks, but also the companies they contract with. This is typically known as motor carrier coverage, and it can include a broad range of coverage types, including:
Standard Liability Insurance
Liability insurance is required if you operate a motor vehicle in the State of Missouri, as well as in most other states across the country. Even if you consider yourself a cautious truck driver, there are plenty of safety hazards you may encounter that could send your big truck sliding out of control. If you are responsible for causing a collision while driving your commercial truck for work, you could be subject to hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars of damages. At Ozark Legacy Insurance Partners, we recommend truckers purchase high-limit coverage to help protect your business and income against loss due to expensive litigation.
Non-Trucking Liability Insurance
Any liability coverage you may have through your lease may not provide protection when you are using your truck to commute or for private purposes. For those times, there is non-trucking liability insurance, which covers you against third-party property damages and injuries for which you are at-fault while driving your truck for personal use.
Collision and Comprehensive
You invested a lot of money in your truck. If you experience a rollover, major front-end damage, or something worse, your collision insurance can help compensate you for your loss minus your deductible. Comprehensive coverage also protects you against physical damage to your truck, except it is limited to non-collision events like fire or explosion.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
You may feel safe behind the wheel of your big truck, but even truckers can be injured in collision accidents caused by other drivers. If you are the victim of a negligent driver who has no insurance, uninsured motorist coverage allows you to file a claim for your injuries against your own policy. Similarly, underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for excess damages that remain if an at-fault driver’s liability insurance limits are not high enough to meet your needs.
Medical Payments
If you are injured in an accident, it could potentially take days, weeks, or longer to resolve who was at-fault. You don’t have time to wait for the medical care you need. With medical payments protection, you can be compensated for limited necessary medical expenses regardless of who was at-fault for your injuries. This coverage does not replace another driver’s potential liability, but it can help you get the care you need following an accident.
Cargo Insurance
No matter what kind of load you are hauling, to the company who hired you, it is precious cargo. Protect it with cargo insurance that provides compensation for damage to your cargo while it is in transit.
Missouri Trucking Insurance Quotes
If you need motor carrier or private truck insurance in Missouri, we here at Ozark Legacy Insurance Partners can assist you in building a comprehensive protection plan that minimizes your exposure to financial risk. As an independent agency, we can shop and compare coverage on your behalf, as well as adapt your coverage to fit your specific needs, state requirements, and the requirements of any lease agreement you may be subject to.
To find out more about how an independent agent can help you save on your commercial trucking insurance needs, contact our office today.