Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

When I called my agent for the first time and said I was thinking about getting my own authority, they asked me how long I had been an owner operator and then called me back with a pretty good qoute.

 

Good point, kind of like a "which came first the chicken or the egg" dilemma.

We've used the same insurance agency since we started. They've got us with a different company the last few years, but same agency. Their rates seem reasonable, and to me, the process of finding a new agency is so stressful, its not worth it. I know my agent fairly well, I can call him up if I need something, and it'll be done quickly.

We usually get a bunch of letters from insurance agencies in Nov or Dec, "fill out all this info and we can get you a better deal". And it cracks me up that some of them come in an envelope with handwritten address on it, and forms that look like they were made by high schoolers. 97% of their job is pushing paper, shouldn't they look like they do a very professional job of it? Paperwork mistakes happen enough as it is, I'm not going to hitch my wagon to an outfit that can't even make a good first impression.

 

I just called them (PJC) today for a quote extremely similar to that other than 35 on both truck and trailer said they would have some numbers for me middle of next week but yours sound good I would jump on that

 

Great, they are really good people to deal with so far, I have some friends that pull hoppers localy that have been with them for years. I had Northland Insurance back in the 90's but never had a claim.

I called the famous owner operator club in Missouri and they wanted about $5400 for the same coverage and then mentioned end dumps and they will not insure anyone pulling a dump.

 

always good to hear from someone who is satisfied with a company I have been running on MO farm license and planning on upgrading my insurance the way I have it now is about half that but is farm only and doesnt cover cargo I really dont like that even if its my own product I'd almost pay the difference just to have cargo coverage on my own stuff

I'm just running too many miles empty not to be able to backhaul and it really wouldnt take much to cover the added expense of the license and insurance

they said even though I havnt been commercial (technicaly) owning and operating my own truck for 5 years is just as good

I had a minor accident when I was 18 in a personal vehicle but it was deemed an unavoidable accident and I've never had a ticket

hopefully it comes back fairly reasonable

and that owner operator club wouldnt give me a liability quote without a dot number but their physical damage seemed pretty outragious and I do pull an old schien dump on the farm some with gravel and lime I originally bought it as a backup for my pos 79 cornhusker "the crack hopper" but that shoulnt be a concern now with the new trailer but I guess they are out anyway for me because of the dump (its a full frame and pretty solid even on a slight slope)

 

Wheathauler we started cutting rice yesterday. Back at it shortly today. New man loading bins hope that goes OK. On the plus side it's dry here so the turnrows are mostly dry and the county roads.

 

The Owner Operater Club won't insure you for physical damage on any truck if you pull a dump is what they said.

I had First Guard out of Florida who only insure owner operators and is one of the cheapest I found at the time. I had physical damage and non trucking liability (bobtail) and was paying $244 a month. After a friend told me about PJC I called them and for the same coverage I pay $167 a month. When they gave me the quote for my own authority I was going to be paying $277 a month after the down payment which is usually two payments up front, $33 difference then what I was paying at First Guard and would have a whole lot more.

You always need to shop around for insurance either business or personnel before you renew. My family has been with the same agent for years and pay to much but they won't listen to me, I could careless about having a friendship with my agent they will screw you if they get a chance, they are out to make money like everyone else they just do it with a smile. I am looking for good coverage but cheap and stay away from the guys that are trying to sell you some while their sitting in their underwear in a mobile home. lol