Location: /TWU Members Insurance/Transport Liability

TCIS in conjunction with the Transport Workers Union have tailored made liability Insurance especially taking into account the needs of their members

Three main areas of liability exist for transport operators whether they are single owner drivers or large fleet operators.

 General (Public) Liability
Carriers Legal Liability
Dangerous Goods Liability

General (Public) Liability
This policy is intended to cover injury of, or damage to property owned by third parties OTHER THAN from the use of a registered motor vehicle. It is a blanket cover to protect the non motor risk of any operator. Certain extensions may cover registered vehicles but they are generally of a minor nature.
The policy covers such cases as dropping a carton on a bystander or knocking a person down some a staircase whilst delivering into a building.
While the policies mentioned here do cover damage or injury to third parties, including incidents caused by the freight you are handling, ie. goods falling from a truck hitting a passing car, NONE of them will provide any protection for freight itself being damaged whilst in your care.

Carriers Legal Liability
This policy provides cover for your legal liability for damage to freight in your care.
Legal costs in defending the claim via the wording on your consignment note, or at common law, are paid by the insurer. It is the only way you have full protection for losses arising from your negligence.
The policy will cover you operating under a principals consignment note. Additionally it can be xtended to cover subcontractors operating under your consignment notes.
Importantly, because it is a liability policy, you must deny liability in all cases. If, for commercial reasons, you are not prepared to deny liability, you must combine this cover with some form of transit insurance to meet your principals contract requirements or those of your significant clients.
Many operators rely on their, or their principal's, consignment notes to protect them against actions for recovery arising from damage to, or loss of, freight in their control. Ultimately, these documents may be challenged in a court of law to check their validity. This can lead to two problems:
1) the cost of defending your consignment note wording and...
2) the difficulty in trying to contract out of liability for negligence on your behalf.
Additionally, if you have a loss without a signed consignment note, the conditions on the back of the note will be of no use. Importantly, if you are working under a principal's consignment note, they may be protected, but you, as a subcontractor, may not.

Dangerous Goods Liability
Motor vehicle Section 2 (liability) covers damage to property of third parties arising from the use of a registered motor vehicle. Importantly, however, it does NOT cover damage to freight consigned by you.
This cover is incorporated in comprehensive motor insurance policies. Alternatively, it may be purchased as a stand alone contract (Third Party Property Damage).
The usual limit of liability (sum insured) is between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000.
Importantly, however, cover is usually dramatically reduced, or totally eliminated, with the transportation of dangerous goods. Many insurers reduce the cover to between $25,000 and $100,000. Some policies may be extended to restore higher levels of cover for Dangerous Goods Haulage at additional cost. Please note that government regulations require a minimum of $1,000,000 for packaged Dangerous Goods transportation. This rises to $2,500,000 for bulk. Most standard motor policies, with this in mind, DO NOT provide adequate cover without some additional cost.

TCIS offers a policy specifically designed to cover liability arising from the transportation of either packaged or bulk dangerous goods.

For further information or quote please click here