Question About Flat Tires On Company Trucks

(Apologies in advance for reviving old posts)

Do company drivers get additional insurance to cover truck maintenance not covered by the company? Or, do most just rely on their normal auto insurance, without and added rider clause?

As a company driver, you do not need additional insurance to cover maintenance to your company truck. (I’m speaking for Schneider, but I can’t imagine it would be that much different from the other company carriers). Your company will pick up the tab on any maintenance required to keep your truck running. Now, if you hit something and maintenance is required on your truck to repair the damage, your company will charge you with the dreaded ‘preventable accident’ citation, which will go on your record, but you still won’t be responsible for paying the damages. Allow that to happen repeatedly, and you’ll be looking for a new company to drive for.

By the way, I like that you dug up this old thread. It shows that you took the initiative to do a little research before asking your question. There are a plethora of redundant threads on here because people don’t do that very thing.

I had a trailer tire blow last week, and the recap spun off the one beside it. Had another one go today on a different trailer.

Both times I call the shop, they get me the number of the closest road service and give me the national account number. No muss, no fuss, no questions.

Your personal auto insurance is not at all involved with your truck, I would run away from any company that trys to claim otherwise.

As far as tires, I blew a dolly tire in February and destroyed the rim, didn't have to pay anything. Also had at least 3 tires with leaks from something I ran over on the road and didn't get charged for those either.

So I recently heard from a company driver .....

I think I've found your problem. There's a lot of misinformation out there and stories that leave out important details because the storyteller prefers to blame someone else instead of themselves for their own shortcomings. If you're driving down the road and get a flat tire because of a road hazard (nail, re-bar, barbed wire, etc.) it's not your fault and you won't be charged. If you turn a corner too tight and catch your rim on the curb, a fire hydrant, etc. and chew up your rim or your tire that is your fault and you may be asked to reimburse the carrier for the damage. If I, or any other experienced driver, had a chance to grill your, "company driver" about his story I bet we'd find one or two important details that he chose to leave out.