What Business Owners Need to Know about Fleet Insurance

If a company uses a truck for business purposes, even only part-time, it is likely that there is a need for commercial vehicle insurance. This need may arise in some not so obvious ways, such as when a business owner lends his or her personal truck to an employee to run an errand for the company. That is a commercial use of the vehicle, which may not be covered under a personal automobile insurance policy.

Additionally, when a company has more than one truck in operation, especially when there are multiple drivers of the commercial vehicles, the company may benefit from insurance of those vehicles as a fleet. A fleet is usually four or more vehicles used for commercial purposes. Even an individual that drives four or more personal vehicles may benefit by switching to fleet insurance.

Common Uses for Fleet Insurance

Common uses for fleet insurance include trucking companies, rental car companies, taxis, delivery services, buses, company automobiles used by outside salespersons, and many others. If your company has more than one truck or a combination of trucks and automobiles that it uses for commercial purposes, check with your agent at The Owens Agency, LLC serving Waldron, AR, and the surrounding areas to determine if fleet insurance is the appropriate choice for coverage.

Advantages of Fleet Insurance for Trucking Companies

Having fleet insurance eliminates the stress and extra work of maintaining separate insurance policies for each vehicle. There may be economic advantages, and the claims process is usually very efficient. If a fleet of trucks is used to transport goods, some policies also provide additional coverage for the value of the products being transported.

Contact your agent at The Owens Agency, LLC serving Mena, Waldron, AR, and the surrounding areas to learn more about the fleet insurance solutions that would be beneficial for your business.

Trucking Risks: Why Trucking Insurance Coverage Is Crucial

While trucking insurance may seem like a considerable investment, it is one of the more essential protections you can provide for your Waldron, AR business. Just like other forms of business insurance, trucking insurance coverage can help pay for damage or losses that otherwise might result in your business shutting its doors. When selecting the ideal policy, you need to consider the risks. Regardless of the type or size of the truck you operate, keep in mind the following factors to ensure your policy from The Owens Agency, LLC is the right one for your company.

Trucking Accident Risks

According to the Department of Transportation, 130,000 people in the U.S. are involved in a truck-related accident each year; 22 percent of which result in injury to truck drivers, passengers or other drivers, and 75 percent of those incidents result in property damage. Whether you are an individual operating a single commercial vehicle or a trucking company, trucking insurance is invaluable – the average cost of a commercial trucking accident is $59,000. With the right trucking insurance policy, you won’t be responsible for hefty out-of-pocket payments.

How To Minimize Trucking Risks

Talk to your insurance agent to have your policy reviewed periodically to ensure you have adequate trucking liability coverage for your Waldron, AR business. Assess your risks and make sure you have coverage that protects you beyond the basics. Only hire experienced and skilled drivers with a history of safe driving. Create a safe schedule, encourage drivers to pull over and rest if they feel drowsy on the road, and make sure your vehicles are operating at peak levels.  Each of these measures can help to keep your risks and liabilities as low as possible.

For more information about trucking insurance and choosing a trucking insurance policy that is best suited for your unique business risks, call the insurance experts at The Owens Agency, LLC today and learn how you can get started.

3 Safety Tips for Truckers

Truckers notoriously have to handle a lot during their time on the clock. From long hours to hypnotic roads, there’s a reason why trucker safety is so important and so disastrous if something goes wrong. For a safer ride every time, follow these three tips for trucker safety from The Owens Agency, LLC. 

Better Driving 

Most truckers know to slow down before they hit a big curve or to hit their brakes when they enter a construction zone — but that doesn’t always mean they do it. It’s not easy for truckers from Mena and Waldron, AR to reduce their speed when they’re under a deadline, but it has to be done. If you find yourself in bad weather conditions or are exhausted from a long drive, make time during your trip to pull over and wait for things to blow over. This can be the difference between a successful haul and death.

Smarter Loading 

The truck reacts to every bump and curve based on how well it was loaded. The more precautions taken during the process, the more likely it is that the weight will be evenly distributed along the road. There are also plenty of products that can be purchased for semi-trucks, such as air springs, to ensure that the truck doesn’t have as much wear and tear on it by the end of the journey. 

Additional Trucking Insurance 

All truckers are required to have some type of insurance for both the driver and the vehicle, but all policies are different. Companies in Mena and Waldron, AR who wish to save themselves a lot of hassle in the future can contact The Owens Agency, LLC to find out more about how truckers can get the best possible protection. From bodily injuries to vehicle damage, there’s a lot to learn about how trucking insurance works. Give us a call to find out more and to get a quote.

What You Need to Know About Trucking Insurance

If you own a transport business and require trucking insurance, navigating the process of obtaining this type of insurance can be slightly tricky. But if you have the correct information, and work with a knowledgeable insurance agent, it will make the whole process go much smoother. Here are some tips to get you started:

To get a quote, you’ll need a lot of basic information.

Before you can get a quote on your trucking insurance, remember that you will need to compile quite a bit of information. This will include an insurance policy “dec” page (declarations page), the driver’s license numbers and driving histories of all of your truckers and drivers, speeding ticket information, VIN numbers of your trucks, and more.

Remember there are different types of trucking insurance options within this sector.

Also keep in mind that there are different types of trucking insurance, including motor truck cargo, liability insurance, bobtail insurance, and physical damage coverage. Your agent will help you decide which of these insurance plans you’ll need.     

Finding a highly qualified trucking insurance agent.

Finally, remember that you will definitely want to find a highly qualified trucking insurance agent who can help you find the perfect trucking insurance policy for you, your company, and your truckers.

The Owens Agency, LLC

If you live or have a business in Mena or Waldron, AR and are searching for a great trucking insurance policy, The Owens Agency, LLC can help. We offer trucking insurance policies and other types of policies to all residents of Mena and Waldron, AR as well as the surrounding areas. Allow one of our insurance agents to discuss your policy options with you and help you choose a plan. Stop by our nearest location or give us a call! We look forward to it!

Starting a small business? Help for first time trucking company owners

Starting a small business is exciting. You get to work for yourself and can enjoy all the freedom that comes with being your own boss. Many people choose to start a small trucking company as their first small business. Starting a commercial trucking company though comes with many regulations and insurance requirements that first-time business owners should know. Below, we have outlined some important pieces of information you should be aware of before starting your trucking company.

MC Number

For a trucking company, your MC number must be active if you plan on operating as a for-hire carrier. After you buy a BOC-3, your MC number becomes active 15 days later after your insurance company completes the appropriate filing.

Interstate vs. Intrastate

It is important to know the difference when starting a trucking company. Intrastate means that you are traveling within one particular state. Interstate means that you plan on traveling across state lines.

Coverage

The most important thing to know when starting a small trucking business is the amount of coverage that is needed. For commercial liability, it is recommended to at least carry a minimum amount of insurance coverage.

The residents from Poteau, OK know that insurance is of vital importance, especially when starting their own small trucking company. At the Owens Agency, LLC, we can help advise the citizens of Poteau, OK with what type of trucking insurance coverage to get. The experts at The Owens Agency, LLC are trained experts in insurance policies and can help get you started today. Feel free to call the agents at The Owens Agency, LLC today to update your coverage or get started with brand new trucking insurance policy.