Dump Truck Insurance is specialty insurance and falls under the category of “commercial auto insurance”, covering dump trucks and aggregate hauler operators. The term “aggregate haulers” is often used to describe dump trucks and operators who haul dirt, sand, gravel, and sometimes asphalt.
Dump truck owners or operators are required to have liability insurance coverage before these trucks can be legally driven or used for jobs. And in Ohio, there are specific insurance requirements to remain complaint with PUCO (Public Utilities Commission of Ohio) and the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Insurance requirements vary depending on what you’re hauling, where you’re hauling (intrastate or interstate), the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of truck, and whether you are hauling hazardous material.
I get asked what the difference between “Intrastate and Interstate” trucking is quite often so here is the difference:
Interstate means you are engaging in Interstate commerce by transporting goods across state lines.
Intrastate means you are engaging in intrastate commerce by transporting goods only within a single state whose final destination is within the state from which it originated
In addition to insurance requirements, PUCO conducts safety inspections on the commercial vehicles themselves and checks the commercial driver’s license to ensure the driver has the proper qualifications to operate the CMV, including the class, necessary endorsements, expiration date and age of the driver. The inspection process may include an inspection of the following and you can find more details of this inspection process by visiting PUCO
When applying for dump truck insurance or insurance for any commercial vehicle, several factors will be taken into consideration to determine your yearly premium (rate):
Some of the most common types of dump truck businesses we insure:
Basic dump truck insurance policies provide the mandatory coverage required to operate these trucks, which includes the minimum bodily injury and property damage liability coverage amounts required by state law. In Ohio, depending on your operation, these requirements typically start at a $750,000 CSL for intrastate motor carriers with a GVWR of more than 10,001 (non-hazardous).
Other coverage’s you may wish to add to your policy for more protection:
Here are a few resources to help you get your trucking business up and running.
Where to register for your DOT “Department of Transportation” number: DOT Registration
Trying to find out the GVWR on your dump truck? Here is the link to a free VIN decoder fr-om the US Department of Transportation: Free Dump Truck VIN decoder
Download Truck Drivers Guide Ohio State Highway Patrol Truck Drivers Guide
Download 2019 Ohio Motor Carrier Safety Guidebook by Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Transportation Department : MotorCarrierSafetyGuidebook2019
Informative Trucking Magazine: Commercial Carrier Journal
Join your local Trucking Association: Ohio Trucking Association
Whether you own a fleet of dump trucks or are putting your first dump truck on the road, I can help you protect your business and answer any questions you may have related to dump truck insurance in Ohio. Give me a call for a dump truck quote: 614-642-0941
