If you have ever seen a car stranded on the side of the road, you have probably felt glad that you weren’t in that driver’s shoes—especially if you are driving a commercial truck. Still, breakdowns happen, and they might be both costly and dangerous. If a problem crops up, you might wonder if your
commercial trucking insurance can help you. Indeed, it can, if it contains a roadside assistance supplement. Here’s how it works.
Roadside Assistance for Truckers
Trucks are motor vehicles, just like any other car. They can break down, have flat tires and overheated engines, or run out of gas. The thing is, this might happen on a much bigger scale.
A broken-down truck could involve a lot of different parties. First, it places you and your business in a bind because you might become delayed, costing yourself time and money. Those ramifications could extend to the cargo of the clients you serve, since everyone wants to see their goods delivered safely.
Furthermore, a sudden failure on the roadways might at least make the vehicle undrivable. At its worst, it might lead to wrecks or other severe losses. That’s why, if you have any inkling of a problem developing, it’s best to pull over and look for a solution to your problem.
If you have trucking insurance, the policy might have a roadside assistance component that can help you out. By having this supplement, you can call your insurer, which can then send professional repair and assistance services to your side. With the benefits of your roadside assistance service, you can get on your way faster, cheaper and with minimal hassle.
The Benefits of This Supplement
Commercial trucking insurers are beginning to offer roadside assistance with more and more frequency. In the event of a sudden breakdown, you can call the insurer (many have a special roadside assistance line). The insurer can then dispatch a service technician, who might be able to provide you with:
- Tire services (including replacement tires)
- Towing services
- Gas, oil, fluid or water delivery
- Jump-starts and battery delivery
- Winching and extraction
- Lockout services
- Minor repairs
Some of these services will come at no cost to you besides the cost of paying for it in your insurance premium. Others will be free up to a certain point, but then may cost you, such as if a tow surpasses a 50- or 100-mile limit. All the same, in most cases, you’ll get substantially reduced service costs in cases where you call your insurer’s roadside assistance, as opposed to calling a mechanic service. Therefore, you should consider this coverage a great policy perk.
Also Read: Build Your Truck's Emergency Supply Kit Today