Motor Carriers Form (USA)

The Motor Carriers Form is a type of commercial auto insurance form used in the United States to provide coverage for businesses that transport property or passengers. It’s broader than the Truckers Coverage Form, as it applies to a wider range of vehicles and transportation operations beyond just trucking.

Here’s a breakdown of the Motor Carriers Form

Coverage Sections

The form typically includes several sections addressing different aspects of coverage:

• Covered Autos: Defines the types of vehicles covered by the policy, including trucks, trailers, buses, vans, and other vehicles used for business purposes. It categorizes vehicles based on their use, such as:
• Owned autos: Vehicles owned by the business.
• Hired autos: Vehicles leased, rented, or borrowed by the business.
• Non-owned autos: Employees’ personal vehicles used for business purposes.
• Liability Coverage:
• Bodily Injury and Property Damage: Covers bodily injury and property damage to others caused by the insured’s vehicles.
• Environmental Restoration: May include coverage for environmental cleanup costs if a covered accident results in pollution.
• Physical Damage Coverage:
• Collision: Covers damage to the insured’s vehicles from collisions.
• Comprehensive: Covers damage to the insured’s vehicles from events other than collisions, such as fire, theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
• Cargo Coverage: (If applicable) Provides coverage for loss or damage to the cargo being transported by the insured’s vehicles.
• Motor Carrier Conditions: Outlines the general conditions that apply to the policy, such as policy period, premium payment, and cancellation provisions.
• Definitions: Defines key terms used in the policy.
• Exclusions: Specifies the types of losses or events that are not covered by the policy.

Customization

The Motor Carriers Form can be customized with endorsements to tailor the coverage to the specific needs of a business. Common endorsements include:

• Trailer Interchange Coverage: Covers damage to trailers that are not owned by the insured but are being used under a trailer interchange agreement.
• Refrigerated Cargo Coverage: Provides coverage for spoilage of refrigerated cargo due to equipment breakdown or other covered events.
• Motor Truck Cargo Legal Liability: Covers the carrier’s legal liability for loss or damage to the cargo they are transporting.

Who Needs It

Any business that uses vehicles to transport property or passengers should consider a Motor Carriers Form, including:

• Trucking companies
• Delivery services
• Bus companies
• Moving companies
• Waste haulers

Benefits

• Broader Coverage: Provides coverage for a wider range of vehicles and transportation operations compared to the Truckers Coverage Form.
• Flexibility: Can be adapted to meet the specific needs of different types of motor carriers.
• Comprehensive Protection: Combines liability, physical damage, and cargo coverage (if needed) to protect against various exposures.

Example

A moving company uses a Motor Carriers Form to insure its fleet of moving trucks, including liability coverage for accidents, physical damage coverage for their trucks, and cargo coverage for the household goods they are transporting.

The Motor Carriers Form is a crucial insurance tool for businesses involved in transporting property or passengers, providing comprehensive protection and helping them manage the risks associated with their operations.

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