10-4 Magazine / March 2025 51 curb them. This month, I’m going to bring up a subject that everyone tries to avoid – insurance. More importantly, health and life insurance. Outside of fuel and truck payments, it is one of the costliest expenses we owner operators and/or companies have. Why would that be so important right now? As I’ve said in the past, it’s not the time of year that matters, but the time of your life. The average truck driver is older than the speed limit on most county roads. In case you don’t know, the speed limit on most two lane country roads here in Michigan is 55 mph, and most drivers are older than 55 years. Many of them are entering this occupation as a second career, which may mean they are not overly experienced and/or subject to rookie mistakes. Did I mention our eyesight isn’t what it was 30 years ago, either? Neither is our balance, so we don’t just weeble when we wobble, sometimes we all fall down. A simple fall in your twenties can mean a day off work and sore muscles. In your thirties it’s more serious and could even mean a trip to the emergency room, along with pain meds. Do I need to mention how devastating that same fall can be to an even older driver? Nobody wants to think about the cost of recovery for a broken leg or a fractured hip, but these things can happen. Just the cost of transport by ambulance from the accident can be thousands of dollars that are not covered by the truck insurance. Far too many of you don’t carry a Workman’s Comp policy that covers “on the job” accidents. This may come as a surprise, but I have never had a lease contract that included a comprehensive worker’s comp policy, either. That means you are on the hook for those expenses. But that’s just the start of your misery, wait until the ER (emergency room) bills arrive, not to mention the cost of pain meds. For over the road drivers, what if you can’t return to work that day and your truck/trailer is loaded and/or parked in a shipper’s lot or unsecured parking space? Now what?? Let’s look at this from a practical standpoint. What does an additional policy cost? When I say additional, I mean above the minimum required by some state laws. To my knowledge, there are states that do not require any coverage if you are a 1099 contractor. Yes, there are individual states that have in place some limited requirements, but if you are uncertain, please check your contracts or ask the HR department. I was at one time leased to a carrier that had a standard (minimal coverage) company policy, but I still carried my own policy through a local company, and upon providing proof of my coverage, I was allowed to continue using it and not charged for the standard company policy. You may ask why that’s important if you are already covered by the company policy. As with anytime you are dealing with an insurance company, there will be negotiated outcomes on usage. I would sure feel more comfortable knowing I had control over my claim and that it wasn’t left in the hands of a temporary office worker to handle. There are owner operators who are working under their own authority who may have chosen to save a few bucks on the liability policy. In doing so, they may have overlooked the potential for a catastrophic non-work-related injury. My agency offers workman’s comp (work related injuries) as a condition or option. I recommend you consider it instead of some chrome do-dad or bolt on accessory for the truck. However, if you are injured while not performing work related duties (mountain climbing, skiing, bicycle riding, etc.) but also not at your home domicile, in most cases, that will fall under personal health insurance. I don’t know the numbers for certain, but I do know there are far too many drivers who do not have any health insurance, either. If you’re relying on the hospital to treat you and then dismiss the bill, good luck with that. All this money you think you are saving by not having insurance will come in handy when you’re laid up for six weeks with a broken ankle. That is if you still have it. I’m willing to wager you don’t because you never did in the
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