By Deborah Graves, OOIDA Truck Insurance Department
Question: What is towing and clean-up coverage? Do I have it, and if so, do I have enough?
Answer: Towing and clean-up coverage is what you will need in the case of an accident, to clean-up debris from your equipment and cargo, as well as towing your equipment and/or off-loading your cargo. You should also have coverage for storage costs after the wreck.
Now the big question is: Do you have enough coverage? Let’s talk a bit more about that.
Being out on the road, I’m sure you have heard some of the horror stories about the cost to clean up a crash scene. On average we see towing bills that run around $30,000. Some can be lower — but some can be much higher, depending on many factors. We have seen bills as high as $100,000 and more. You need to make sure you protect yourself as much as you can for those instances.
Most physical damage insurance policies will include some coverage for towing, clean-up and storage; however, it is not always enough. Did you know that if you chose not to carry physical damage on your equipment you won’t have any coverage to clean up, tow or store the units?
Next, we must address the freight you are hauling. Whether you carry your own cargo coverage or you are leased and your motor carrier has this coverage, a cargo policy will also have some towing, clean-up and storage coverage included.
OOIDA has the built-in coverage, and we offer a wide range of supplemental coverage you can add on for a very reasonable price.
We are here to help you succeed. So don’t find yourself upside down on a loan. Call one of OOIDA’s expert insurance agents today to discuss your coverage.
You can reach an OOIDA truck insurance agent Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CST, at 800-715- 9369.
Do you have an insurance topic you would like to know more about? If so, email us at
[email protected]. We will be covering a new topic each month and will do our best to address everyone’s questions.
The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has been fighting to defend the rights of small business truckers since 1973.
