Question
Connie,
I'm more of a lurker than a poster, but an interesting scenario has come about and I'd like your opinion.
I am an O/O leased to same company for 6 years. I currently run under their authority, doing linehauls. Since I came on board with the company, the have started a rider program. As an O/O, I purchased my own passenger policy because it gave me more latitude than their company program. Well, after discussing my rider policy with their agent for liability coverage, they decided my policy was "not a good idea," that is, I think their liability agent "discouraged" them because my rider policy covers minors of all ages. I have a child that is younger than the minimum age requirement for their rider program. Though, they allowed me to take her with their authorization previously, just last week that stated they would no longer allow minors of any age, regardless of my or their coverages.
My question is: how much aprox. would it cost to obtain my own coverages/authority and triplease to them, thereby removing them somewhat from the "liability" aspect in the event of a catrastrophy? I know I'd need to up my charges, but if they are reasonable, it may be worth considering. I have so extenuating circumstances, that I'll go into later, if you need.
I'm a 10 year CDL.....no chargeable accidents in over a million miles. One truck, possibly one trailer. What do you think
Answer
Phillip,
I don't know your particular situation, but can tell you that most insurance carriers "frown" heavily on passengers unless the passenger has a CDL.
Carrying your own liability will not remove the motor carrier from the equation in a catastrophic loss. And you cannot waive the rights of a minor child.
Most insurance companies that write primary liability, have a question..."Do you allow passengers?". In most cases, if the answer is "yes", they will decline to write the coverage.
I understand wanting to bring a passenger, but it is extremely dangerous to do so, most especially for children.
At one point, I may have been more sympathetic. But about 10 years ago, I handled a claim from one of my owner-operators who in an attempt to be a "good dad" took his 10 year old and 6 year old with him to the tire shop one Saturday morning. I will spare you the details, but an accident resulted in the 10 year old being buried on his 11th birthday. Since then, I do not advocate bringing children in the truck.
I appreciate your inquiry, but knowing that you are taking your daughter with you and that she is a minor, I don't have a market that would be willing to entertain this risk. The insurance market is getting very hard, as evidenced by your motor carrier's change to a "no minor policy". Premium increases are expected to continue throughout 2001. The experts are predicting rates increasing by another 15 - 18%.
Perhaps you'd like to reconsider your situation. If that simply is not an alternative, you may want to seek out a motor carrier with a "generous" passenger program.
Regards,
Connie M. Alexander
Answer
Connie, I appreciate that, as well, as your concern and suggestions.
The problem I have is this: My daughter lives 200 miles away. Her mother (damn her) moved my D after our divorce. Unfortunately, I live in a state that does not have "moveaway" laws, preventing a parent from ripping a child away from the other parent. That's another grip for another party, on another day.
Anyway, my "run" takes me within 5 miles of the "meeting place" for getting my Daughter. I have 2 options:
1) Drive my 500 mile route on Fridays, get in my car when I get back, drive another 400 miles to go get her and bring her home.....turn around on do the same thing backwards on Sunday.
2) Get my D in route on Friday and take her back in route on Sunday.
Truly from a safety, and even liability standpoint, I think she and I are better off with me getting home with her with only 500 miles under my belt, vs. picking her up with 700 and 200 to go. And on the flipside, if personal miles were monitored as well, I'd be out of hours, 50 miles into my Sunday nite run.
I always keep my D buckled, in the bunk or in the jumpseat. The driver/passenger of a tractor have the least likelihood of injury than any other motorist. With my rider policy, my D has much better coverage than in my own passenger vehicle.
I have no choice to commute with my D. Butting her in the tractor, IMO is the best option, or at least, lesser of evils given the circumstances. Perhaps a facecious question, but what would a "sympathetic jury" do to my Motor Carrier if I had an accident on a Monday morning in my tractor, and it was known that I had driven and (the company had known) 900+ miles in less than 15 hours? 8 hours to take my D back to her mother's and another 8 on my route?
It genuinely is a quality of life question for me and my D. It appears no one wants to share in the responsibility, though I am sure they would should something unfortunate happen under either scenario.
Answer
How old is your daughter?
You really won't be able to get your own authority and then 'trip-permit' to the company you are working for now, they probably wouldn't allow that either. You would become a primary policy holder and would be operating under your own authority. Trip-permitting is another issue the insurance companies and carriers of the world are finding is a less and less attractive combination.
Are you under dispatch when you pick up your D, or have you dropped your load and are dead-heading? Do you have a separate bobtail policy, or are you covered by the companies independent contractor policy, or do they just include bobtail or non-trucking use in their policy?
It is very unlikely that your company will be interested in giving you the same run you now have in a trip-permitting situation, IF they allowed you to trip-permit at all. Their profits would drop, and so would yours.
I have been a single parent for years and my ex and I have been shuffling kids back and forth forever! I do not drive a truck and neither does my ex. I do however sympathise with your situation, but I must echo Connie's concerns. Even given the above obstacles, the idea of a child in a truck is too distracting for a parent, especially one who is as attentive as you obviously are.
Perhaps you can find another solution to this dilemna. Moving? Asking for a different route? Two weeks on; one week off? Local, from where she lives? Change jobs? Team driving and leaving a car at the drop/pick-up site(This one appeals to me the most!)? The important thing is to continue letting your daughter know how important she is to you via phone calls and letters.
You'll figure it out, where there's a will there's a way.
Good luck, Mel
[This message was edited by Mel on June 21, 2001 at 23:24.]