Flatbed Trailer Insurance
Transporting goods on a flatbed trailer can seem straightforward, but there are risks from the moment you load your cargo to when it’s unloaded. Using equipment like forklifts and cranes can pose hazards, and load securement is a priority that should not be overlooked. Flatbed trailer insurance can help cover your vehicle, your cargo, and your drivers if things go awry along the way.
What kind of coverage do flatbed trailers need?
If you specialize in flatbed loads, you may face more scrutiny from enforcement agencies: how well have you secured your load? How many chains and straps have you used, and are they high-quality? Attention to detail is the name of the game – and that goes for your insurance coverage as well as your daily operations.
When your livelihood is on the line, it’s important to be sure you’re covered in a variety of scenarios. We’ve developed a policy tailored to flatbed trailer operators, including features like:
- Commercial Automobile Coverage
- Cargo Insurance
- Commercial General Liability
- Warehousemen’s Legal Liability
- Property Insurance
Need more? No problem.
We have other handy coverages for flatbed trailer operators, like our Select Endorsement: this extends coverage to include your operations as a freight forwarder or load broker.
When you deal with shipping contracts, you’ll welcome the features of this coverage, including Declared Value of Cargo, Brands and Labels, and Control of Salvage. Your broker can walk you through all the advantages of Select Endorsement!
When can insurance for flatbed trailers come to your rescue?
Heavy, wide, or otherwise awkward loads require careful attention and special safeguards. But while highly-trained drivers and the right permits are crucial, they can’t always prevent a loss.
Your insurance for your flatbed trailer should be broad enough to respond in a range of situations that could arise between point A and point B, but also deep enough to ease the costly burden of a covered loss. Here are a few scenarios where specific features can come into play.
Damaged cargo can devastate your bottom line
You’re responsible for keeping your cargo safe and sound, and that’s not always easy. If you were to misjudge a bridge clearance, for instance, and the top of your load collided with the structure, it could be an expensive lesson in spatial awareness.
Cargo insurance would help cover the damages to that cargo, so you wouldn’t have to pay for the substantial loss entirely out of pocket.
Flatbed fender benders can cause serious trouble
What happens if you’re hauling a pricey load of lumber for a client and a strap snaps, sending the logs rolling off your truck and into traffic? Well, if you’re relying on your personal auto coverage, it might mean you’re in significant financial and legal trouble.
The right commercial automobile insurance can help cover you for physical damage to your vehicle, property damages to the other vehicle, and bodily injury to a third party, should a collision or other incident happen while you’re on the road.
Cover your equipment, tools, and workspace – wherever they may be
When you run a flatbed fleet, there’s more to consider than your trailers. You likely handle equipment and specialized devices when loading and unloading, not to mention structures and tools that help you store your vehicles. You’ll want to consider protecting that property as much as possible.
Wind, rain, snow, and fire can cause significant damage, but commercial property insurance can come to your rescue in these situations. This coverage is designed to help protect your physical assets both inside and outside your commercial building.
Assistance at every step of the way
On top of our comprehensive core coverage and exceptional customer service, your business insurance policy grants you access to our Assist services for extra peace of mind.
Learn more about how and when our Assist services can come to your rescue!
Commercial Truck Filings
Proving that you have enough liability insurance to meet all federal requirements isn’t an option – it’s a necessity. That’s why we help complete and expedite federal filings for our customers who do business in the U.S.
Plans change, and last-minute arrangements can be stressful. When you’re short on time, we can get things moving right away, arranging your financial proof of responsibility quickly so you can stay on track without risking a penalty when you cross the border.
Managing Risk
We know that risk differs across industries. We also know that your livestock transport operation is unique, and the challenges you face deserve careful consideration and a personalized approach. Insurance plays an important role, but it’s not everything – you can lean on our industry expertise, library of focused resources, and confident guidance to take your protection and loss prevention to the next level.
