Posts Tagged ‘transport’

What You May Need To Know About Truck Insurance Today

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Truck insurance today is necessary whenever someone owns a business or uses a truck for personal use. It simply gives the owner and driver the protection they need to safeguard against theft, collisions, vandalism and more. Policies for just about any kind of truck can be customized depending on the industry, so the right coverage is obtained. Since insurance can be easily found on the Internet finding, getting and buying a policy should be a snap.

Truck insurance is intended to insure just about any type of truck like dump trucks to tow trucks. Even if you have a combination or a few different kinds of trucks there may be some helpful discounts which can give you more savings. Depending on whether, if the vehicle is for commercial use or for personal it may greatly influence the rates you pay.

For anyone that is a business owner today the right coverage is very important. No matter if you are running a smaller sized business or one that operates a fleet of trucks for shipping. Any kinds of policies may be customized to fit any kind of business need or industry need. Furthermore you can easily connect with a local agent to find the best advice critiqued for your company.

Today there are many different kinds of trucks on the road. Many businesses use big rigs to haul merchandise and other products across country or to another city nearby. This is why it’s very important to get customized insurance. This way you ensure to get all the coverage you need no matter where you travel to, or what type of business you are in.

To get started in buying a insurance policy, quotes are easy to find on the web. Through various web sites you can find out what you are to expect to pay for a new or additional policy and see if you can get any discounts. Once you find something you like you can go a head and purchase it, to get immediate coverage. Even if you have some questions or need some extra help a local insurer can be easily found to answer all your questions.

Payment options can range from monthly or policies paid in full. The monthly payments can make it easier for just about any budget, while giving you flexibility. This way you still have the option of purchasing a full policy in full, or just paying each month the minimum amount due. Depending on what your needs are each can have their own benefits.

Truck insurance is something that keeps you covered no matter if you own a small business or just drive a private vehicle. A customized policy may cover you for your business no matter what industry you are in. A quick quote can be found on the internet which allows you to buy and get coverage immediately. Many of the payment options make getting and carrying insurance a snap. This way while on the road you can be sure when the unexpected happens you have the coverage you need.

In cases where you and also your organisation needs truck insurance, Coversure would be the folks it is important to get in touch with.

Need Truck Insurance? Here’s Some Advice.

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

When looking into getting insurance for your truck, it should be a priority to see what cover you are getting, not just whether you have got the cheapest quote or not. You often get what you pay for with insurance and if you pay rock bottom prices, the chances are you’re not going to be covered for a lot of situations.

A business using trucks relies heavily on them to transport their product to suppliers and clients, and therefore they need to carefully consider the insurance they are going to use. There are various angles which need to be covered in the insurance, for example the business will need to cover the cost of damage to the actual truck, the possibility of being sued by the other party, and also any cargo that the truck may be carrying from damage or theft.

The price of insurance varies with the size of the trucks being used. These trucks can vary between 3.6 tons and a huge 60 tons. The variety of cargo can also have a large impact on the insurance premium for a vehicle, such as:

- Livestock - Flammable materials like petrol - Valuable cargo like expensive cars (imagine crashing in to a truck load of Porsches!) - Foodstuff - Important paperwork

The list can go on.

To get honest advice about the insurance you need, and to make sure your truck is insured properly, it is best to speak to a reputable insurance broker. They made also be able to guide you with any questions you may have about other insurance possibilities.

The insurance broker you use may also be able to offer you ways to alter your business, which will mean you can lower the risk of your trucks being involved in any accidents. This will mean you claim less, and ultimately your premiums will remain at a controllable level.

If you or your organisation needs truck insurance, the Coversure are the people you should contact. They are among the top insurance brokers and have strong influences in the industry. They can hunt down a better deal than any individual, just click on one of the links. truck insurance

I Don’t Just Go To Truckfest For The Monster Trucks.

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

When my son and I go to Truckfest this year, I’m hoping to sort some ‘cheap’ insurance for my truck, which is up for renewal. I am aware, however, that cheap insurance doesn’t really exist. I’m not only going for the insurance though, I’m not ’sad’, my son loves the Monster Trucks!

Truckfest is great, and has such diversity - there is so much to see and do. There are a large variety of people to meet, including companies showing new technology, to insurance brokers, and large haulage firms to small owner drivers. There are people there from many walks of life.

Truckfest is one of the largest outdoor events in the UK. It combines exciting family entertainment, celebrity guests and monster trucks (my son’s favourite) with industry bodies, trade stands and potential employers. Each year hundreds of trucks attend each show, from standard HGVs and fleets, to giant trucks with gleaming chrome and spectacular artwork. The whole of the trucking industry use Truckfest to highlight the very latest vehicles and industry developments to the world of trucking.

It is also there to showcase the industry to the general public and even if you aren’t a fan of trucks, there’ll be plenty to do, from the giant trade stand areas, to model shows, craft fairs and the action packed entertainment.

I am looking forward to Truckfest for many reasons, but one of my main objectives will be to try and get a good deal on my truck insurance. Having said that, it’s not always a case of looking for the cheapest insurance deal and it is often better to ensure that you have a comprehensive insurance policy. The way I look at it, if you get a cheap insurance deal at the same time, that’s all the better. If you can’t find what you’re looking for at Tuckfest, I would suggest you contact your local insurance broker. Most of the time, you really can’t beat the personal service provided by a good local insurance broker.

Great truck insurance policies are often difficult to find at a reasonable price, but all is not lost, you can use an insurance broker like Coversure who are among the best in the business, to secure you a great deal using their contacts and influences in the insurance industry. truck insurance

How To Buy and Import USA Auto Salvage

Sunday, April 24th, 2011

One of the largest owners of car in the world in America, so it goes without saying that the USA has probably the largest quality of auto salvage for sale from insurance companies in the world. They all tend to be sold off through large salvage auction yards right across the states.

If you think this all sounds too good to be true, well you wouldn’t be far wrong. There are still laws, rules and licenses required to be able to buy Auto Salvage in the USA, just can’t walk into a salvage auction house and bid on cars, like you can in other parts of the world.

Unlike the UK the USA allows certain cars to be sold for export only. This means the insurance companies have deemed the car un-repairable to be safe on USA roads, but we all know this is just a case of money and because cars are so much cheaper in the USA, bargains can be had when comparing prices of salvage to other countries. This means you have pretty much excluded much of American bidders looking to speculate.

Before you think about buying USA auto salvage you need to do some preparation to know what you will be able to buy and what not as a non resident with no licences. Often you will also have to pay a deposit before you will be allowed to bid on anything and of course you must have registered with the auction companies. You may only be able to bid online, which also adds an extra charge.

There is a service that will get you through the process of selecting American auto salvage, pay a deposit and then have access to the online bidding software, to take part in live auctions. This service is called SalvageSpareFinder and is very convenient, but you will need to account for extra commission charges.

Before you buy a salvage project you should think about how to get it from the United Sates to your own country of residence. This will involve and export process at that end and an import process where you are, that normally involves a shipping company. As far as getting the vehicle from the auction to the nearest international dockside is very easy, as most auctions have connection and contacts who for a fee will ship it across country very quickly.

Finally you should be considering taxes, such as “import tax” and “purchase tax” that is often on the total cost of purchase, including delivery not just on the car. How country import laws will handle a vehicle that has been deemed as Salvage in the USA, will be unique to their own borders.

Another item written by Scrap Car aboute auto salvage in America. A service also being offered is money for old vehicles throughout the UK.

Ways To Pay Less For Your HGV Insurance But Keep The Same Cover

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

While working as a fleet manager of a distribution company in the South East of England, in control of 20 HGVs, I realised that when organising insurance, choosing a policy with excellent service is more rewarding than simply choosing the cheapest policy and not being comprehensively covered.

The high fuel consumption rate and the amount of road traffic accidents we were recording has always concerned the company. After introducing a new safe driving program for our drivers, we are pleased to announce an approximately 40% reduction in the amount of road traffic accidents. Our insurance premiums have also decreased by 25% due to the introduction of this program and a new telemetric system installed three years ago.

On the job driver training and follow up review meetings are used for drivers, which help them discuss issues such as acceleration, speeding and harsh braking. More training is implemented by the training manager in problematic areas if it appears necessary after obligatory monitoring of the driving.

We have a fantastic insurance broker, who we have used for a long time now. She was instrumental in the introduction of this safe driving scheme, she provided us with advice and guidance free of charge and also helped negotiate the significant discount. On top of the telemetric system and safe driver training program, she also advised that we reduced the speed limit of our trucks from 56mph to 54mph in an effort to continue reducing the number of incidents involving our vehicles.

Although the reduction of our insurance premiums is important, we also implemented the scheme because we are dedicated to road safety, and by 2012, we aim to have reached a ‘zero’ road incident target. Although this is a difficult target, we feel that with our drivers’ and partners’ cooperation it is achievable.

You should speak to your local insurance broker if you are interested in lowering your insurance premiums whilst still maintaining a quality comprehensive policy. They should be able to give free advice and guidance which should help, and mean that you have a cheaper policy whilst being fully covered.

If you need insurance for a single HGV or a fleet, Coversure are an insurance broker and will find you the best deal available. They have contacts all over the HGV insurance industry. Contact them at coversure.co.uk for the best deal on your HGV insurance

Interesting Fleet Stuff

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

Working in the insurance business, I am always looking for new ways to gain cheaper quotes for my clients. I work mainly with fleet, truck and commercial vehicle business and in an attempt to see what is new on the market I went to an ‘eco-friendly’ exhibition in Earls Court. Although it wasn’t well attended, there were some good stands, holding interesting ideas for fleet, commercial vehicle or truck operators.

One of the stands held a product which aids a customer when the validity of their claim is in doubt, called the ‘black box’, the evidence of which will be allowed to be used in court.

As an explanation, a lorry driver recounted to me a story about how he had been in a collision in a car, and although it was a minor collision, the driver and passengers (more than the driver remembered there being) were all claiming for whiplash, which the lorry driver didn’t believe could have occurred from such a small collision.

The insurance company was able to save a lot of money when the black box was able to prove that the truck did not hit the car with enough velocity to cause injury to the passengers.

I am unaware whether the case study is true, but the general theory appears to work. Insurance companies will be able to save a lot of money using this technology. You may think this unimportant, because the companies have plenty of money, but if cost of claims goes down, so do premiums, while at the moment, insurance frauds are costing everyone money.

This was a really interesting conversation and made the exhibition well worth attending. There were other good stands too, and I will write about these in future notes. I was impressed with the idea that we would be able to reduce the cost of fleet insurance, commercial vehicle insurance and truck insurance by keeping claims to a minimum.

combat insurance fraud in this way it will save insurance companies a lot of money. As an insurance guy, I’m interested in any way to bring insurance prices down. fleet insurance , but if cost of claims goes down, so do premiums, while at the moment, insurance frauds are costing everyone money.

Some Advice To Keep Your Fleet Insurance Costs Down

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

As Fleet Insurance premiums continue to rise, fleet managers, charged with arranging the insurance for their trucks and cars, have been talking to Fleet Insurance brokers about ways in which they can keep fleet insurance premium rises to a minimum.

According to one fleet insurance broker, the best way to ensure cheap premiums is to manage the risk that your fleet poses to underwriters as efficiently as possible and to do all you can to minimise the chances of presenting fleet insurance claims that fall into the category insurers call “fault” claims, even though to you and me, it isn’t our fault at all!

If your vehicles are damaged by uninsured drivers, weather, vandalism or road debris, you will be forced to make a “fault” claim, which will increase your premium when you come to renew your policy the next year. If the offending party is not an insured and identifiable third party, then a claim will count against you on your renewal.

“Many of the “fault” claims made under fleet insurance policies are unavoidable, but others can easily be avoided with a little common sense”, says Timothy Darling, a well-respected Fleet Insurance broker based in Essex, in relation to the question ‘What can you do to avoid such expense?’.

“You wouldn’t necessarily want to walk under a ladder when the chap at the top was holding a large pot of paint” said Timothy “and the same kind of approach will pay off when you try to reduce your fleet insurance costs. Take one of our most often reported claims for example. In the fleet insurance world we call it “hit whilst parked” and, not surprisingly, it involves vehicles left unattended by fleet drivers and found damaged on their return. Obviously this type of damage can happen anywhere, but it is more likely to happen if the vehicle is parked without any consideration being given to the possibility of an insurance claim.

“It may be legal to park close to the corner of a main road but, if a large vehicle needs to turn into that nearby factory, could it do so without hitting your truck? Even in a designated truck and lorry park there are some places that are a better bet if you want to avoid damage to your vehicle and the subsequent hike in your fleet insurance premiums. My advice is to try not to park too close to other vehicles which reduces the risk of damage by opening doors, and to choose a well lit spot where other drivers can see your car which will also have the effect of deterring vandals.

“I know it may sound a little ridiculous but you need to take the same sort of care in parking your car as you would when placing a valued ornament around your home and if you do, you will minimise the risk of damage and help to keep your fleet insurance costs low”.

What can you do to avoid such expense? Take one of our most often reported claims for example. If the offending party is not an insured and identifiable third party, then a claim will count against you on your renewal. fleet insurance

Will the Introduction of Telemetric Driving Data Recorders Result in Cheaper Truck Insurance?

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

There appears to be a number of hauliers and couriers using black box type recording equipment to combat insurance fraud. With fraud rising 70% in the last three years according to Sky News, the technology seems to be predominantly used at the moment for settling insurance claims. Some insurers are giving away free recorders with insurance policies. But does this mean that drivers that use this technology will benefit from cheaper truck insurance? I suppose it ultimately depends on the risk and whether or not the risk of a claim is reduced by using this technology.

The technology includes wide angle video recording that is constantly recording during the journey. Once capacity is reached on the memory storage media, the technology overwrites the earliest recorded data. Upon impact the technology saves a period of footage before and after the impact and marks it as read only. This prevents it from being overwritten if the technology is reused. Some brands include a “panic” button that initiates this procedure even if there is no impact. This could be used for minor collisions that do not trigger this save procedure.

Overall driving time, breaking strength and time and the speed of the vehicle are all saved as data on impact by the technology and can therefore be used to get a good image of the events before and after the collision.

Although this technology does not reduce the chance of a collision, it does reduce the number of fraud insurance claims. The footage saved can be used by the insurance companies to see if the claims are genuine, reducing the amount of money the insurance companies give out unnecessarily.

However it can also be argued that drivers that know they are being monitored telemetrically for speed and driving style may adopt a more careful approach to driving. In the event of an accident, owners of the vehicle may request copies of the footage and if the driving style is found to contravene company policy, the driver may find themselves in some form of disciplinary proceedings. If this technology results in improved driving, surly the chance of an accident taking place is going to be reduced.

This technology could result in cheaper premiums and therefore cheaper insurance if the technology reduces the amount of fraudulent claims made, because the insurance companies will receive fewer losses, and therefore lower their prices.

truck insurance The companies can save a lot of money each year by viewing the tape to see if claims are genuine. If this technology results in improved driving, surly the chance of an accident taking place is going to be reduced. Some insurers are giving away free recorders with insurance policies.

My Insurance Slip-Up Over Winter Tyres For My Fleet!

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

I apologise in advance for the rant I am about to have. After recent weather, and the last winter we had, I thought it a wise move to fit winter tyres onto my fleet. I didn’t do this to save money on insurance, but rather to ensure my drivers we safe, and the cars handled well.

However, it would make sense that we would get reduced premiums if the cars are safer with these new tyres wouldn’t it?

After believing I was going to receive a cheaper insurance I was therefore shocked when my insurer increased the price of my premium rather than reduced it. This is apparently due to the fact that by adding winter tyres to my vehicles, I was taking part in vehicle modification, leading to a slight increase in premium.

The news is that many motorists and fleet managers are thinking of switching their tyres over to winter ones. Goodyear, Dunlop and Continental, the UK’s leading tyre manufactures are experiencing high demand as a result of the more severe weather we are seeing. A Goodyear spokesman said “We have experienced shortages in some sizes due to extreme demand, but are increasing our production.”

The Director of Policy and Research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists, Neil Greig has also released a statement, saying “I’m surprised. Winter tyres’ safety benefits are clear - I think they’d outweigh any additional costs.”

After speaking to my local insurance broker, I was told that I shouldn’t expect that every insurer will raise the premiums due to my changing my tyres. She then ended up considerably beating my current insurer by offering me a quote for a renewal, meaning I did result in cheaper fleet insurance. To anyone who is thinking of fitting winter tyres, I urge you to contact your local insurance broker first to ensure your premiums will not rise.

I thought it to be a sensible and curious move. The news is that many motorists and fleet managers are thinking of switching their tyres over to winter ones. Let me start by apologising, as this is a little bit of a rant! fleet insurance

Some Information About Fleet Insurance

Saturday, January 1st, 2011

Before I spoke to my local insurance broker, I had never heard of a mini fleet policy, I thought they only came in the ‘fleet’ variety and that they were for big companies with plenty of vehicles. So my health and safety inspectors could get to inspections and meetings, the company owned four cars, but I never thought of using a fleet policy to save money.

I used a new broker to renew my professional indemnity, public liability and employer’s liability, and while I was doing this I was told I qualified for an annual insurance assessment. My broker and I had a meeting to deduce whether I was paying too much and whether I was properly covered.

In the meeting, which was six months after the renewal of my liability policies, I hoped the insurance broker would be able to spot opportunities where I could save money.

All the cars were lined up outside the office building on the day the insurance broker came because it was also the day of our weekly progress meeting. He walked in, asked me if they were the company cars, and if they were on a fleet insurance policy. I informed him that I insured them all separately, and didn’t realise I could get a fleet policy with only four cars. He smiled, and informed me he already had a plan to save me money.

Whilst in the meeting the broker said I would be able to save money on insurance premiums if I combined all my individual car policies onto one mini-fleet policy, which is defined as 3 or more vehicles.

After the advice he gave me in the meeting, I now often ring my insurance broker to find out if I could be saving any money elsewhere. He taught me that it does not pay to just shop for the cheapest deal around, and a broker’s invaluable advice is often far more useful.

fleet insurance policy This will not be a wasted effort because your existing broker will want your latest driver information anyway. Summer is the perfect time for a criminal, while most people are away, they see an empty house as an opportunity. It really is hard work though and you need to plan.