What a standard truck policy does not cover
Nothing here is an unusual exclusion. These are the ordinary boundaries of a standard truck policy, and each is a regular cause of an unexpected claim outcome.
The trailer you do not own
Your motor policy covers your vehicle. A trailer belonging to a customer or a depot, hooked to your unit, is a separate exposure covered by trailer in control. It is the most common gap we find on prime mover and rigid policies.
It surfaces at exactly the wrong moment, because a trailer is usually damaged in the same incident as the truck.
The freight, and the breakdown
Motor cover does not extend to the goods you carry. That is carriers liability or goods in transit, elected separately with its own per-event limit, and set against an average load it will be short on the day it matters.
Mechanical failure is not covered by standard perils either. A hoist, tail-lift, crane or refrigeration unit failing on its own is machinery breakdown, which is a separate election and easily missed on a truck where it does the actual work.
You
No motor policy replaces your income if you are hurt and cannot drive. As a sole trader you generally cannot hold workers compensation on yourself, so personal accident or income protection is the answer, and it sits entirely outside the truck's policy.
It is the gap owner-drivers most consistently discover too late, because everything else they insured was about the vehicle.
Cover this article touches on
Get a quote
Tell us what you run and how it earns. It takes about a minute, and we come back to you with your options.
Start a quoteOr call 1300 080 323.
Any advice on this website is general advice only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on it, consider whether it is appropriate for you and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).