What Does Bobtail Insurance Cover [2018]

Posted on September 27, 2018

What Does Bobtail Insurance Cover

Motor vehicles are prone to many risks, such as theft, accidents or even fire. Even though the probability of this risks occurring may be low, when they do happen, it can lead to major loses especially for the truck owner. Truck drivers are also exposed to many risks. An accident can lead to injury resulting in situations where one has to pay hefty medical bills. Trucks are an investment and a way of owners safeguarding their vehicles, they usually take up insurance covers. One of the insurances covers available for truck drivers is the bobtail insurance cover. What does bobtail insurance cover? This is an important question that will be discussed in length in this article.

What is bobtail insurance?

Bobtail insurance is a liability cover that is specifically meant for truck drivers. Trucks are normally used for freight services. During such travels, the truck insurance normally covers the driver, the truck and also goods on transit. However, once the goods are delivered, the companies liability cover does not cushion the driver from any risks that may occur. Bobtail insurance helps bridge this liability gap by ensuring the driver is covered during such times.

What does bobtail insurance cover?

The bobtail cover applies when a truck is not hauling any load. Such situations normally arise when goods have been delivered and the driver has to travel to get the next haul or when the driver is running personal errands. It is important to note that bobtail insurance only covers the truck when no trailer is attached.

Who takes up the bobtail insurance cover?

Bobtail insurance policy is meant to cover the driver. Normally, if one is employed as a driver in a company, the employer takes up the cover on behalf of the driver. Some truck drivers, however, operate as independent contractors working on lease agreements with truck owners. In such instances, truck owners normally require drivers to take up the bobtail insurance cover before the lease agreement can take effect.

Taking up a bobtail insurance cover

As per the law, it is mandatory for a truck to have an insurance cover. For truck drivers operating lease agreements, having bobtail insurance is a critical part of the contract. Normally bobtail insurance is charged monthly but there is also an annual policy plan. How much you pay for your bobtail insurance will normally be based on the following factors:

• Choice of your insurance cover provider

Companies normally charge different rates based on the company’s policy model. The base rate and premium charges may fluctuate from time to time.

• The type of truck

Trucks come in a variety of models and some tend to be cheaper than others. During valuation, the value of the truck is one of the determinants of how much one will pay as premiums.

• The type of plan

Annual plans tend to be cheaper as compared to monthly plans especially if the covers are meant to last a long period of time.

Important facts about bobtail insurance

There is a maximum value that one can insure of about $1 million but due to the changes in law, one can also get higher covers. Bobtail insurance is not a substitute for primary liability when it comes to truck insurance. Lease agreements will normally require drivers as a way of safeguarding trucks as they operate.

Terms and conditions

After understanding what does bobtail insurance cover, the next step is analyzing the specifics of such an agreement with an insurance company. When taking up such a cover the first step is normally valuation. This is the process of determining the actual value of the truck, key features such as brake performance and security features. Upon valuation the premiums the truck driver is supposed to pay will now be calculated.

The bobtail insurance cover comes to effect once the premiums are paid and the insurer verifies the truck credentials such as ownership and registration. It is, however, important to note that the insurance policy does not cover risks associated with negligence. Such risks include damages caused by reckless acts such as over speeding, drunk driving or even careless overtaking.

As a truck driver, understanding what does bobtail insurance cover is very important. As a bobtail policyholder, your obligations are to pay your premiums on time and inform your insurer of any issues such as breakdown or accidents that may occur while you are on the road. Maintain your truck should also be your number one priority as it minimizes accidents.

Conclusion

Understanding what bobtail insurance covers sheds a lot of light on the relevance of such a policy. One should always consult a professional before taking up such a cover. Such individuals will normally guide you on the contract terms of such a policy and even point out the top insurance companies to go for when taking up such a cover.

The Dangers Of Being A Truck Driver

Posted on September 24, 2018

The current state of our economy causes many to lie awake at night and worry about the security of their jobs. That said, the long haul trucking industry is one area in which the future seems bright. Simply put, in-demand goods will always need to be transported from point A to B. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a whopping 21 percent job growth within the trucking industry throughout the next three years. According to rough calculations, this means more than 330,000 new trucking jobs will be added to the current economy by the year 2020.

With these types of statistics, it is easy to see why many job seekers would flock to the trucking industry—but there are many things to consider, as trucking is far more dangerous than you may realize.

The dangers of being a truck driver:

Let’s start with the long hours. The majority of truck drivers are expected to be on the road up to fourteen hours each day, and truckers typically receive only about ten hours off in between long-haul shifts. Sure, laws that regulate a trucker’s time on the road do exist, but they are all too commonly broken. Unsparingly, exhausted individuals paired with long-haul trips often equals danger. Sadly, the chance of perishing while on the job is significantly higher in this profession than in others. Auto accidents involving truckers account for 12 percent of work-related deaths in the U.S.

Time off and burnout is also exceptionally high in this profession, as truckers seldom get more than a single day off each week. This schedule often means missed time with family and loved ones, especially around the holiday season when shipping demands increase.

If you think the average trucker’s pay would make up for these sobering statistics you’d be wrong. The average trucker typically earns about $38,000 per year. That doesn’t sound too bad until you break it down a bit further—an excess of 4400 hours each calendar year, equals an hourly wage of about $8.70 per hour.

Poor nutrition is another danger of the road. Truckers very rarely eat three square meals each day, as most of us are accustomed to. Most drivers tend to survive on high calorie, packaged meals during driving hours. These types of foods are usually nutrient diffident and contain very high levels of preservatives, which can wreak havoc on the human body. Often when drivers arrive at their destination for the night, they will treat themselves to a large—and often times unhealthy—meal before heading to bed. It goes without saying this cycle of binge eating, without a regular exercise regime, can quickly lead to obesity, which only exacerbates any existing health problems.

This organically lends itself to another health issue many truckers experience: infrequent medical care. The long hours on the road often make it impossible for drivers to maintain regular checkups from their family doctors. Unsurprisingly, this greatly limits health care options when and if there is a problem, which leads many truckers to ignore symptoms or work through a common illness, such a cold or the flu, rather than taking time off to rest when they become ill.

Additionally, depression is rather common among the truck driver community due to the time spent alone, distance from family and general loneliness.

Additionally, planning ahead for important dates, whether it is a birthday, anniversary, wedding, etc., is a bit of a minefield for a long-haul truckers. Unfortunately, scheduling often comes down to dispatchers, loads, and traffic conditions, so even if a driver has done his or her best to make it back on time, they will often miss important dates and events due to circumstances beyond their control.