RESOURCES & FAQs

Liability coverage protects you when you damage someone else's property or cause injury to others. It's required by DOT and covers the other party, not your truck.

Physical damage coverage protects YOUR truck from collision, theft, fire, vandalism, and other perils. It's optional (unless you have a loan/lease), but strongly recommended to protect your investment.

Think of it this way: Liability covers what you do TO others. Physical damage covers what happens TO your truck.

Yes, most brokers and shippers require proof of cargo insurance before they'll work with you. Standard requirement is $100,000 minimum.

Even "general freight" can be valuable, and you're legally responsible for cargo in your possession. One claim can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

What cargo covers:

• Theft of cargo from your truck
• Damage during loading/unloading
• Damage from accidents while in transit
• Weather-related damage in some cases

Bobtail (non-trucking liability) covers you when driving your truck for personal use or when not under dispatch. Your primary auto liability only covers you while operating for hire.

You need it if you:

• Drive your truck home from work
• Run personal errands in your truck
• Move the truck between jobs when not under dispatch
• Use your truck for any non-business purpose

Without bobtail coverage, you'd have NO liability protection during personal use. Cost is typically $400-800/year.

General liability (GL) covers non-vehicular risks like slip-and-fall, premises liability, and property damage not caused by the truck itself.

Common GL scenarios:

• You damage a dock door during loading
• Someone slips on ice at your yard/office
• You damage customer property with a forklift
• Products liability if you also warehouse goods

Many facilities and contracts require GL coverage for access. Typical limits: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate.

Same day, usually within 2 hours. We prioritize COI requests because we know you need them to work.

To get your COI fastest:

• Email us the certificate holder's exact name and address
• Include any special wording required (we'll review your contract)
• Let us know if it's urgent

Email: Sales@TrisafeInsurance.com or call (614) 974-6067

Basic requirements:

• Certificate holder's legal name
• Complete mailing address
• Any specific wording required (from your contract)
• Whether they need to be listed as "additional insured"

If you have a contract or certificate template from the shipper/broker, send that to us. We'll make sure the wording is correct.

No charge for COIs if you're our policyholder.

Absolutely. Send us a list of all certificate holders with their information, and we'll process them all same-day.

Many owner-operators work with 5-10 different brokers and need multiple COIs. We handle bulk requests efficiently.

1. Safety first: Check for injuries, call 911 if needed, move to a safe location if possible.

2. Document everything:

• Take photos of ALL vehicles, damage, road conditions, traffic signs
• Get contact info from other drivers and witnesses
• Get the police report number
• Note weather, visibility, time of day

3. Call us immediately: (614) 974-6067 - We'll guide you through the claims process and connect you with the carrier.

DON'T: Admit fault or sign anything except the police report. Let insurance handle liability determinations.

It varies significantly based on claim type and complexity:

• Simple physical damage claims: 1-4 weeks if liability is clear
• Cargo claims: 30-60 days typically
• Liability claims with injuries: Several months to years
• Total loss (truck destroyed): 30-45 days once liability is determined

The more documentation you provide upfront, the faster the process. We stay on top of your claims to push for resolution.

It depends on the type and severity of the claim:

• Not-at-fault claims: Usually don't affect rates
• Small comprehensive claims: Minimal impact (broken windshield, minor vandalism)
• At-fault liability claims: Will likely increase rates, especially if significant
• Multiple claims: Pattern of claims has bigger impact than single incident

We shop multiple carriers at renewal to find you the best rate regardless of claims history. One claim doesn't mean you're stuck with one carrier forever.

Initial quotes: 24-48 hours for most straightforward operations.

Complex situations may take longer:

• Multiple claims history
• Unique commodities or operations
• Large fleets
• Hard-to-place risks

We work with multiple carriers, so we're finding you the BEST option, not just the fastest quote. Quality takes time.

Need coverage immediately? Call us at (614) 974-6067 - we can often bind same-day if you have all required info.

About your operation:

• DOT and MC numbers
• Garaging state
• Operating radius and lanes
• Commodities hauled
• Annual mileage

About your equipment:

• Year, make, model, VIN
• Stated value
• Any liens/loans

About drivers:

• Years of experience
• CDL status
• MVR (motor vehicle report)
• Any accidents or violations

Insurance history:

• Current dec page
• Loss runs (if available)
• Prior coverage details

Yes. Claims don't disqualify you from coverage, though they will affect your rate and carrier options.

We work with carriers that specialize in different risk profiles. Some are more forgiving of claims history than others.

What helps:

• Time - claims impact lessens after 3-5 years
• Clean driving since the claim
• Explanation of circumstances
• Steps taken to prevent future claims

Be upfront about your history. We'll find you coverage and work to improve your rate at each renewal.

Yes. Most carriers offer monthly payment plans, though there's usually a small fee for installments.

Typical payment options:

• Paid in full: Best price, no fees
• Monthly: Most common, small processing fee
• Quarterly: Available with some carriers

We'll present all payment options with your quote so you can choose what works for your cash flow.

Stated Value: You and the insurance company agree on your truck's value upfront. If it's totaled, you receive the stated value minus your deductible (no depreciation argument at claim time).

Actual Cash Value (ACV): The insurance company determines value at claim time based on age, condition, mileage, and market value. This can lead to disputes.

Most trucking policies use stated value because it's clearer and fairer. Make sure the stated value reflects true market value - not inflated or understated.

Choice: We represent multiple carriers. If one denies you or raises rates, we have other options.

Expertise: We specialize in trucking. We know what coverages you actually need and how to structure your policy correctly.

Service: One phone call handles everything - quotes, COIs, policy changes, claims guidance. You're not navigating carrier bureaucracy alone.

Advocacy: We work for YOU, not the insurance company. We fight for fair claims settlements and better rates.

Cost: Same price as going direct. Carriers pay us, not you.