How Safety Equipment Will Save You Money on Insurance Posted by DC Cargo Mall on November 04, 2013

Everybody knows that insurance policies are based upon your personal possibilities for, well, failure. 

Perhaps it isn’t your fault. Handicapped, or at the highs and lows of age can affect eligibility for a cheaper plan. However, whether to choose to insure or not is never (and should never be) the question. It is how. How do I save my well-earned trucking bucks, without ‘wasting’ too much on a process that I may never and hopefully will never need to make use of?

Well, other than factors beyond your control, such as age or disability as mentioned above, there are factors so within your reach that to neglect taking advantage of their glaring opportunity’s presentation is reason for banging one’s head against the wall in regret.

Say if you are not one prone to accidents. Your sleeping patterns are religious and give you enough shut-eye to clock in good road time, but never allowing for a desire to close your eyes during trip. You follow direction with ease, and know your routes confidently. You’ve never run a red light and respect the other truckers and motorists on the road beside you. You’ve got a good general background that you can be proud of.

There’s just one problem. But it isn’t minor. Your straps were out of date one time. A winch was broken another. You got caught at inspection and points went up on your record to your detriment and disappointment. But more than that, whether caught or not, the danger this imposes to you is a great one, and just one accident due to failure to properly secure your load is (if not fatal) an exorbitant rise in your insurance fees and a monthly bill to remind you of the harsh reality.

The company you work for will send you a warning and give you three to days to call in and appeal. If you’re lucky, they’ll be more personable and tell you that you’ve got time to improve.

So here’s how to avoid your insurance fees rising the easy way:

1. Simply- Monitor your speed. Are you zooming it up when no cops are in sight and you want to deliver a load more quickly, you’re excited to get home, or simply taking advantage of the fact that it seems you are the only vehicle on the road? Here’s our advice: DON’T. The amount of time and money you waste if you DO get caught is worse than the alternative of patience exercised. And NOT getting caught…but crashing? Well, you tell me. How much time, and money are you saving then?

 2. Load safe. It’s quite basic. Learn your safe loading rules and regulations until you can recite them like a pro. Hey, it can’t hurt. Oh, and preaching is worth nothing without practice. Keep those straps tightened right. Make sure your chains and tracks aren’t rusted or cracked. Get tarped in difficult weather. Be prepared for anything! Even in the event of an accident that was not your fault, your load will not contribute to the injuries by shifting unevenly or falling loose.

3. Pay close attention to signs. One number interpreted wrong and your truck goes under a bridge that is half its size. That’s the end of your truck, perhaps your career, and hopefully not but likely your life as well. 

Load Smart, Stay Safe, and Save More!