Truck Insurance Comparison FAQs
How Will Driverless Trucks Affect HGV Fleet Insurance Prices?
How Will Driverless Trucks Affect HGV Fleet Insurance Prices?
The government has made large and several investments into the research and development of automated vehicles. This is due to their belief that automated vehicles have the potential to make road transport safer and more efficient for all. Yet, with HGV vehicles, qualified drivers will still need to be present in the vehicle until a method of safe driverless long-haul routes is implemented therefore the human element is still vital in the operation of driverless HGV trucks. What does that mean for insurance prices? With rapidly moving advancements in technology, it is inevitable for there to be a disruption in the transit industry changing the way we move goods. With big names such as Amazon and Tesla developing and trialing the use of driverless trucks, the impact in the insurance industry is sure to follow. There is a possible shift to driverless trucks in the near future due to its advantages in both safety and efficiency compared to traditional practises, i.e. a driver and a truck, as error is less likely to occur.
As insurance brokers base their insurance premiums on risk factors such as age, driving experience and diving history. Theoretically with a driverless vehicle, these risk factors are eliminated as it is no longer a person driving the vehicle but a computer. With this, human risk is eliminated. If driverless trucks become the norm, there is a predicted decline in accidents. Following this way of thinking, with little or no risk, insurance premiums will drop and insurance will become more affordable as error is mitigated. Yet, although much smaller in likelihood than human error, computer malfunctions are a real possibility causing accidents on the road. Driverless trucks may also introduce a new elements of danger into road safety such as cybercrime and hacking. Even with driverless cars, the human element cannot be completely mitigated. The possibility of theft will still exist and human third parties can still cause accidents. Even with the advancement of cheap technology, the roads will never be completely risk and accident free as damage and accidents will still inevitably occur both through human and computer error.
Although the price of truck insurance will surely decline as the implementation and popularity of driverless trucks increase, the need for insurance is still necessary as not every risk can be eliminated.
Running a fleet of HGV vehicles? Do you want to find a lower insurance premium?
If you are running a fleet of HGV vehicles then it’s very important to look at all costs across the board. With recent HGV driver shortages, it is likely that you will be looking to get a newly passed HGV driver under 25 to drive for your company. Alternatively, you might take an older driver who would be either over 70 or maybe 80 years old. In these situations, you may also find inexperienced drivers, newly passed drivers or drivers with points on their licence. This can make getting affordable lorry insurance harder. READ MORE
In the current haulage insurance market, it has become increasingly difficult to source good quality HGV drivers. A lot of the younger generation are veering away from the haulage industry to more modern careers. There are also significant costs for the individual driver to gain either a class 1 or 2 licence. Therefore, an advantage of employing older, more experienced drivers is that it can reduce your costs and reduce claims saving you money. If you are a new start haulage operator and a member of the Road Haulage Association you will have no doubt be informed of the Brexit changes. This may mean that more containers are moved on heavy goods vehicles, usually articulated tractor units, from the ports to the end destination. READ MORE
Newly passed drivers arriving into the haulage industry will have undergone significant driving to pass and attain their Class 2 or 1 licence. The term HVG or heavy goods vehicle relate to vehicles governed by Vosa from 4.5 tonne to 44 tonnes trucks. Nearly all businesses rely on road haulage in some way or another. The benefits of finding cheap insurance for HGVs means that the small business will be more competitive with lower costs that other haulage operators whether you are running a truck in Manchester, Birmingham, London or elsewhere. Younger drivers with little or no experience present an issue to insurers as they may have a high risk rather than a lower risk. READ MORE
Brexit comes with a great deal of uncertainty within the haulage business having a knock on effect on the price of lorry fleet insurance for HGVs [heavy goods vehicles]. If you are operating within the UK, for example, Manchester, Birmingham or London, although you may still be affected by Brexit, haulage and fleet operators travelling to and from the EU will be the ones most affected by the upcoming changes. There will inevitably be changes in the way haulage providers operate and the costs involved in their operation, such as insurance prices. READ MORE
Research is the key to finding affordable truck insurance. As with purchasing any type of insurance, it is vital to shop around and get multiple quotes from several different brokers. Many truck insurance providers can be found online and it may be possible to get a more competitive quote if you approach several companies. This will ensure you have found the cheapest truck insurance price available. READ MORE
Fleet insurance is a type of insurance which will cover several vehicles, two or more, all under one policy. This proves beneficial for businesses such as haulage and couriers with many vehicles. This coverage is flexible as to who is covered. Policies range from named drivers for specific vehicles to any driver driving any vehicle. A factor will affect the affordability of your insurance is if the driver has an convictions or endorsements on their license. It is possible to qualify for a driver lorry fleet insurance policy even if a driver has convictions. READ MORE
The government has made large and several investments into the research and development of automated vehicles. This is due to their belief that automated vehicles have the potential to make road transport safer and more efficient for all. Yet, with HGV vehicles, qualified drivers will still need to be present in the vehicle until a method of safe driverless long-haul routes is implemented therefore the human element is still vital in the operation of driverless HGV trucks. READ MORE
New haulage operators will ask questions like: ‘Why have goods in transit insurance?’ ‘Where can I get these policies?’ ‘Who will provide the best GIT quote?’ ‘Does having inexperienced, newly passed drivers or HGV drivers over 75 make a difference?’ ‘If the gross vehicle weight is high, will the price compare to smaller vehicles?’ They might also ask, ‘How can I reduce the cost and find a discount broker who can explain all the advantages and disadvantages of policies for heavy goods vehicles?’ READ MORE