Looking for the best Reefer Breakdown Cargo insurance? Right now you can’t go wrong with GEICO.
Why?
Because GEICO’s Reefer policy gives you more coverage for less money than most other options out there.
Read on to learn why GEICO is the Best Reefer Breakdown Cargo Insurance Choice for Motor Carriers and Owner Operators.
What is Reefer Breakdown Cargo Insurance?
Reefer is slang for Refrigerated Freight.
If you’re a Trucker hauling freight that needs to stay at a certain temperature, you’ll want Reefer Breakdown Cargo Insurance to keep that cargo covered.
The term “Reefer” can be a little misleading because Reefer coverage isn’t just about keeping things cold—it covers freight that needs to stay either cold or warm.
Reefer Breakdown Coverage is added as an endorsement or upgrade to your basic GEICO Motor Truck Cargo Policy.
What does basic Commercial Cargo Insurance Cover?
Commercial Cargo Insurance is also referred to as Motor Truck Cargo Insurance.
When you are hauling any freight for hire you need Commercial Cargo Insurance to protect against fire, collision or striking of the load.
A basic Commercial Cargo policy will provide coverage while you are in the course of transit or during loading and unloading.
Some Commercial Cargo policies, including GEICO’s, take it a step further to cover your electronic business equipment like logging or tracking devices and dash cams.
Most policies do not automatically include Reefer coverage, it’s added as an endorsement to your Commercial Cargo policy as needed.
You can learn more basics in What Does Motor Truck Cargo Cover?
What does Reefer Breakdown Insurance Cover?
MTCR, or Motor Truck Cargo with Refrigeration Breakdown, insures your cargo if it gets damaged due to spoilage or temperature changes caused by a sudden and accidental breakdown of your truck’s refrigeration or heating unit.
Typical limits for Reefer Breakdown Insurance are $100,000 to $250,000.
The typical deductibles is $2,500.
If your cargo can be retrieved after a claim, you could get up to $2,500 to temporarily store it in a temperature-controlled facility.
You or your driver may also receive up to $150 per day or $300 total for additional lodging and meal expenses.
This is in addition to sub-limits on your basic Commercial Cargo policy:
- $10,000 earned freight
- $25,000 removal expense
- $7,500 property preservation.
Why does GEICO have the Best Reefer Breakdown Cargo Insurance?
Right now, GEICO is beating other top insurance providers on Reefer coverage by 20-30%.
But what really makes GEICO’s Reefer Breakdown policy stand out?
It’s the better protection it offers for water damage—something every Reefer owner should care about.
Most policies specifically exclude wetness, rust or dampness from all aspects of Commercial Motor Truck Cargo and Reefer Endorsements.
GEICO does not exclude these perils as long as the property is contained in a fully enclosed, water-tight dry van
….or is completely covered by a securely fastened waterproof tarp.
If you’re a Reefer trucker, keeping your dry van sealed up is a no-brainer—your freight is just too sensitive to risk.
Hauling fresh or frozen food? Maybe plants? Either way, your dry van needs to be fully enclosed and sealed.
So why should this matter to you then?
Some brokers have stopped accepting certain Commercial Cargo policies from other insurers because of that specific exclusion on those policies.
Look, you work hard to find new accounts.
The last thing you need is to bring on a new customer or broker, only to have your insurance rejected through no fault of your own.
What ARE the Exclusions on a GEICO Reefer Breakdown Policy?
All Reefer Breakdown Coverage is designed to protect your freight if your heating or cooling unit fails because of a sudden accident.
No insurance policy is designed to cover issues caused by poor maintenance.
Here are 5 Things Not Covered by any Reefer Breakdown Cargo Policy:
- Failure to provide adequate fuel supply to your vehicle.
- Failure to maintain crankcase oil or refrigerant level within the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Intentional destruction or damage to automatic temperature control units by you or an employee.
- Failure to maintain the calibration of the refrigeration or heating unit.
- Failure to maintain the refrigeration or heating unit within the manufacturer’s specifications.
Make sure you know your part of the bargain in your Reefer Breakdown Policy Contract:
When you buy a Reefer Cargo policy from any insurance provider, you’re agreeing to regular maintenance as part of the deal:
Here’s what’s typically required of you in your Reefer Breakdown Cargo contract:
- You or an employee must check the refrigeration and heating equipment every 12 hours while it’s being operated.
- At least once a month the following must be completed:
- Have your refrigeration and heating equipment inspected by a manufacturer-authorized representative or other trained refrigeration specialist.
- Promplty perform the proper maintenance according to manufacturer’s specifications.
- Make any appropriate or necessary repairs
- Keep and update written records with respect to the above.
It doesn’t happen often, but all insurance providers per contract have the right to check these records whenever they reasonably need to.
If records are not maintained, coverage will then be void under any Reefer Breakdown endorsement.
More questions about Commercial Cargo Insurance are answered at CIS Motor Truck Cargo Insurance.
How to find out if GEICO’s Reefer Cargo Coverage is right for you?
Scroll down to start your fast and easy CIS/GEICO quote now.
Or just give us a call CIS (330) 864-1511…We Love to Chat!
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