52 10-4 Magazine / March 2025 first place. That means you are probably behind on your operating bills like your truck payment, fuel payment, and any other of last month’s operating expenses you paid out to cover your doctor’s bills. Just think if only you had planned ahead instead of living in the moment. Did you know you could have insured your wages or the loss of them, too? Yes, I believe there comes a point when you are insurance poor, or over-insured – that’s when your costs are greater than the benefits, however, when an accident does actually happen, you really do need to ask yourself, “Am I covered?” What happens when you have a life threatening or debilitating illness, or someone in your immediate family (spouse, child, parents) is stricken and you need to take time off the road. This may not be covered by insurance, but are you able to park the truck and do what is necessary, or can you cover the cost of concierge services? Did you set aside funds for a rainy day? Ask yourself, seriously, what happens if that person who has taken care of you is the one who needs help? Did you cover them with health insurance, or did you get yourself a fancier truck? I know there is someone out there who is still trying to rationalize upgrading to a new piece of equipment, but if you can trade love, friendship, and dedication for material things, then you probably don’t deserve either. Lastly, let’s touch on an important aspect of your policy, something no one wants to talk about – life insurance. In the event a driver doesn’t make it home or some other illness shortens their life, are your loved ones protected? We are losing far too many people these days. My hope is to live to be 100 years old and then be shot by a jealous husband. But seriously, as you know, this is a very dangerous occupation we are involved in, and many of us are subject to life-ending illnesses. If the physical strain and poor working conditions weren’t enough, we struggle with poor eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, and continuous exposure to chemicals (like diesel fuel exhaust). Many of these elements can and do cause cancer, diabetes, heart attack or a host of other life-ending diseases. Have you ever thought about what happens if you are gone? There are things far more important than that old iron you affectionately call a truck. Are you leaving a legacy or a liability? Will your loved ones be able to continue living a comparable lifestyle, or are they headed for the employment office or possibly the soup line? Homelessness is a real thing in this industry. How much of what you worked so hard for will find itself on the auction block to be sold for far less than it is worth, leaving your family or legal guardian responsible for the difference? This is a shout-out to all of you in a lease purchase program. Most banks and lending institutions will recommend a life insurance policy equivalent to your financial liability (amount of loan or long term lease). This is often part of or an addendum to the terms and conditions of the loan. Why? The lending institutions don’t want the physical asset back, only their money, and with interest. A lease purchase on the other hand didn’t put up any money and they are hoping to get the assets back, plus your equity. Then, to add insult to injury, they will claim reconstruction to original condition and back charge against your escrow. With a life insurance policy equal to or greater than the payoff of all your financial liabilities, you are ensuring that your dependents will be able to buy out the lease and/or satisfy the note, leaving them the asset. This allows them (your beneficiaries) to benefit from your hard work and not the lien holders. Is this the month when you march on down to see an agent? If you haven’t already done so, today is a good time to readdress your insurance policies to make sure you have proper coverage for your business and your personal effects. With spring looming on the horizon, warm weather will certainly inspire us all to get outdoors and do the things we love to do. My hope is they are not too dangerous or life threatening! If that means shining up your chrome and then polishing those wheels, then by all means, do so. Fix the lights that don’t work, too, so when I see you strolling the highways and byways of this great land, you are on point and pressed out. Even if you’re not headed out to Louisville or some other truck show, you will know you are doing the job you set out to do, and the people who mean the most to you are going to benefit from your efforts. If you are headed to MATS this year, I wish you the best of success and hope you have a great time meeting old friends and making new ones. It has been my experience over the years that everyone who steps out of their comfort zone and participates in the competition outside is a winner. Not all of them will go home with a big trophy, or even an honorable mention, but the friendships forged, and the experiences gained can never be taken away or broken. Who knows, your truck might be that “diamond in the rough” that gets photographed by an unknown enthusiast who then shares that photo with someone who knows someone connected to a national magazine. I can’t ensure that a photo of your truck will grace the cover of this publication, but who knows, stranger things have happened. We are always looking for those “diamonds in the rough” among the more famous and well-known show trucks, 10-4! n
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