April 13, 2024
You ‘don’t need trailer coverage’ for a broker’s trailer: True?
My alarm bells went off when my insured recently told me, “My customer/broker said I don’t need trailer coverage to pull their trailer.”
It’s never wise to accept statements or advice about insurance from anyone other than a licensed insurance agent. And when we’re talking about insurance for trucking, preferably you want an agent who has firsthand experience and knowledge of the trucking industry. Otherwise you could find yourself without the necessary insurance coverage for your trucking operation.
This insured has been doing power-only operations for two different customers/brokers. Neither of them required him to provide “physical damage” coverage for their trailers. While on the surface this sounds great to us truck owners, it comes with a very high risk! That risk is that while a trailer is in the “care, custody and control” of the power-only trucking operator, that operator can still be held liable for physical damage to the trailer.
I explained to my insured that while his customers/brokers said trailer coverage was “not needed,” it is almost certainly “necessary.”
This call I received demonstrated an all-too-common issue among us truck owners. Yes, that includes me as well. As I shared with Overdrive Editor Todd Dills several years ago, I too trusted brokers when they made statements about what insurance requirements had to be met to haul loads for them. At that time, I made the horrible decision to allow customers and brokers to be added to my insurance policy as “additional insured.” Then, once I discovered my error in adding “additional insureds” to my policy, I ended the practice immediately.
[Related: Just say no: One owner-operator’s approach to broker/customer demands to be ‘additional insured’]
The reason I point this out: this insured who called me felt horrible that he had allowed himself to be somewhat misled
Alabama law firm leader advocating in DC for state residents’ civil legal needs
The leader of Legal Services Alabama (LSA) is advocating for constituent access to the legal system across the Yellowhammer State on issues such as fair housing, veterans’ benefits, domestic violence and medical debt.
The law firm, located in Montgomery, provides free, client-centered, civil legal advocacy to low-income Alabamians. LSA also collaborates with others across the state and nation to find solutions to systemic issues caused by poverty and social justice inequities, according to its website.
Guy Lescault, LSA Executive Director, met with congressional staff, including US Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), in Washington, DC on Monday, April 8.
He was joined by attorneys from every corner of the nation to mark the 50thth anniversary of Legal Services Corporation (LSC) supporting civil legal aid across the United States.
LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans and was established by Congress in 1974. To mark its historic 50th anniversary, LSC has embarked on an outreach campaign — “Protecting the Promise” of equal justice.
“Justice should not be reserved only for those who can afford it,” said Lescault in a statement. “The promise of equal access to justice has been a core American value since our country’s founding. However, this promise is shattered when people are forced to navigate the legal system alone while facing issues that threaten their ability to keep custody of their children, avoid eviction and foreclosure, obtain benefits rightfully earned and stay safe from domestic violence.”
LSC’s 2022 Justice Gap report found that low-income Americans received no or insufficient legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in each state, the District of Columbia and US territories.
Meantime, LSA offices are located in Anniston/Gadsden, Birmingham, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery,